We have a great symbiotic relationship with Smiley Cafe. And so Lance over at Smiley Cafe started the Smiley Special, which is basically a free burrito and coffee for anybody who asks. And that really inspired me to sort of give back more than I receive.

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About a month ago, I realized I really wanted to do something this year about the exceptional need in our community, both through food insecurity and through immigration issues. And so I felt that I could really donate my time and my efforts through art to create a silent auction. And 18 artists are now participating in this fundraiser event. And over $7,300 worth of art is being offered, and a hundred percent of those proceeds are going to be donated to the artists' nonprofit of choice.

You know, it started like a little bit of an avalanche. It started with one little crack and then, and then somebody said, well, I can donate a piece and I want to donate it to this. And everybody chose their different organizations. I chose Manna Soup Kitchen, but everybody's contributing something different. Either it's a painting or a piece of jewelry. It's just a great cause

The holidays should be about giving. And so I decided to jump on board and come up with a piece that I could donate. So I am doing a pair of hoop earrings and a hoop necklace, and it's a mixed metal piece. You can't really go wrong with mixed metals. They go with everything. You can dress it up, dress it down.

My piece is called Warmth Within. I want it to represent a, a place to come home or a place to feel at home. And what I'm donating to is Los Ros. This is the group that is helping people, immigrant families, have access to their rights and have support. And Los Capros, I feel like, is one of the, one of the charities that's doing direct great work, but they need money. So that's why I chose that

Being a an independent artist and having to create your art by yourself, that doesn't mean you have to be alone. And so when you can be alone and create, but come together as a community and as a group of artists, and then also this community goes out to the community, this donation goes out to the community. It helps others. We're on this planet to help each other, I believe, to love and be with one another. And if it's a small piece that I can contribute to that have at it.

Well, for those of us who care about the community, care about things going on in the world right now, sometimes it's hard to know what to do. You can feel really helpless and overwhelmed. And so when somebody puts out a platform, this is what we're going to do and this is how it works, then it's such a pleasure and such an honor to be able to join in.

Well, the art room has a lot of heart, and it's been really amazing to watch this whole group of people come together. And it really helps us all realize the strength that we have when we come together and really support a local organization or local need. So I encourage everybody to come out, bid on auction items, and help your local community by, by supporting the local artists.

For more information, visit the art room collective.com. And for more stories like this, visit Durango local.news.