Card Making at the Anaheim Emergency Shelter
On September 14th, members of the Women’s Auxiliary facilitated the monthly activity at The Salvation Army Orange County’s Anaheim Emergency Shelter. This month’s workshop was card-making led by Chela Joseph and hosted by Nancy Romero.
The monthly workshops are sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary, chaired by Nancy Romero, and led by various Auxiliary members and also members of the Tustin Ranch Salvation Army Church.
Arts and crafts activities offer numerous benefits for individuals living in shelters. They provide a creative outlet for self-expression, allowing participants to process their emotions and experiences in a safe space. Additionally, arts and crafts can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment, helping individuals regain a sense of control and hope in challenging circumstances.
There were about twelve guests who participated in the workshop. Each guest left with custom-made cards and newfound skills in card making, along with a positive and enjoyable experience. Everyone enjoyed light refreshments, along with a lot of laughter and creativity.
The guests made three cards using templates prepared by Chela and Nancy. There were fun stickers and bling, glue, crayons, and beautiful sayings spread around the table. Chela gave a great step-by-step guide to creating a sample card, covering basic techniques and tools.
Hand-made gifts bring joy to giver and recipient
The guests learned that handmade gifts are the best way to say I care, even if you don’t have any money. They also talked about fun activities the guests would like to do in the future for monthly activities. Activities currently planned include a gardening workshop, a sing along, and another arts and crafts activity.
A picture is worth a thousand words so see the creativity displayed by everyone. And our gentlemen were among the newly discovered artists!
A big thank you to Nancy and Chela for volunteering their time to bring joy to each guest!