TinCan Metaphor 5 Recap

Thinking Outside the Pencilbox:

What do you do with 2500 custom engraved pencils that were imprinted with the wrong sized logo?

At Pencilbox we're always looking for ways that we can contribute to the community, and to find ways we can reuse things that would normally be on their way to a landfill.

In this case, we found a local program that wanted the 2500 misprinted pencils.

Lauren McCall and Raegan Williams of Beechwood Middle School are collecting donations of school supplies for a community service project and will donate them to one of the needier schools in Fullerton. You can learn more these two young philanthropists in the Orange County Register article at: ocregister.com/news/school-125488-williams-mccall.html

Your old office supplies, stationary, pens and pencils can be put to good use by donating them to students of low income families.

So next time you're cleaning out your desk or office supplies, consider donating them to an organization who could put them to good use.

Tin Can Metaphor 5 Art Show

Pencilbox Studios is hosting the fifth (not quite annual) fine art show featuring the artists collectively known as TinCan Group, plus an invited guest artist. This year's show, an eclectic blend of photography, painting, and mixed media, is entitled Tin Can Metaphor 5. Live music will be provided by Peanut. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

Illumination Foundation

Pencilbox Studios was asked to create the materials for the Illumination Foundation's newest, soon to be annual, fundraising event. We were happy to create a look for the pieces that will be used in the coming years.

The Illumination Foundation (IF) is a grassroots organization that addresses the crisis of homelessness in Orange County through integrated services that provide appropriate solutions.

Mobile Multi-Service Center Clinic

On Wednesday, February 17, iHOPE hosted the Illumination Foundation’s Mobile Multi-Service Center clinic at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center/ Boys and Girls Club from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The Illumination Foundation and iHOPE are non-profits addressing the homeless crisis in Orange County by providing services and resources. Over 250 homeless and low-income individuals received free medical and vision care, and were connected to medical and social resources such as housing and job referrals, insurance information, and legal advice. Vision care, including access to free prescription eye-glasses, was recently added to the van services in response to data that shows Orange County has one of the highest proportions of overweight children and teens compared to the national average. The high-risk of diabetes and eye disease for these children increases the need for vision care. The addition of vision services was also in response to last summer’s State Government cut of glasses benefits to most of the adult MediCal population. The mobile medical van will be in the South Orange County area again Wednesday, March 17 at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel. For more information please contact ifhomeless.org or ihopeoc.org or (949) 212-4420

What We Learn from our Kids

My daughter's science project and fellow artist/environmentalist, Amy Lee, lead us to Chris Jordan's Photographic Art website this morning (chrisjordan.com). His images are beautiful, motivational and guilt-ridden. Of course, we viewed his website right after returning from the grocery store - where I forgot my reusable bag and had a Starbucks in a paper cup with a plastic lid. Images such as Jordan's remind us to be more diligent and to keep trying to whittle away at the environmental issues we face in our daily lives.

Image depicts one million plastic cups, the number used on airline flights in the US every six hours. And then a close up.

iHOPE Distribution of Donated Goods

Did you know in Orange County, a person earning minimum wage would need to work 141 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom apartment. With this knowledge, Pencilbox Studios supports iHOPE, an organization committed to a permanent solution to homelessness in Southern Orange County. Kathleen Kaiser and her team design and create the marketing materials for the organization while Kathleen also serves on the Board of Directors. Twice monthly iHOPE delivers needed goods to the Capistrano Beach area. Donated goods distributed to the homeless and working poor are coats, socks, shoes, and blankets. If you have goods to donate or would like to volunteer please contact iHOPE at info@iHOPEoc.org or call 949.212.4420

Dates: February 6th size and 20th 2010
Morning shifts: 7:45 am at El Patio Restaurant parking lot, Capistrano Beach
Afternoon shifts: 4:30 pm near San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Church, Capistrano Beach