The Art For Aid Project

05/28/2026

Chi miigwetch. Thank you! The fair was a huge success this year.

Each spring Zion Memorial United Church and Art for Aid host a fund...

05/23/2026

Saturday May 23, 2026 -

Today 8 students demonstrated the power of youth supporting youth through Art for Aid.

The students are on a week-long stay in Ottawa as part of the Rotary Club’s annual Adventure in Citizenship (AIC) conference in Ottawa. The conference gathers nearly 200 high school students from across Canada to explore Canadian citizenship and democratic institutions.

This Art for Aid collection initiative was ignited by the group learning about Art for Aid and wanting to support our work. The Rotary Interact Clubs of Burlington, Oakville and Waterdown, helped to get the youth to the Ottawa train station with 8 remarkably STUFFED, large suitcases filled to the brim with all manner of art supplies.

Many thanks to students: Diyana Sanghera, Kaitlyn Ha, Lilliane Vien, Maya Basnet, Noora Allam, Pari Gupta, Peijle Xia, and Tatiana Markova for bringing this incredible array of art supplies all the way from Burlington! The group is pictured holding their Art for Aid Certificates of Participation.

While our shipments have gone out for the season, we expect to receive calls for art supply shipments if forest fires up north cause families to evacuate their homes for hotel stays in the nearest cities. There’s not much to do for young people who have to spend several weeks away from home. A few boxes of art supplies can help alleviate some of the boredom.

Since 2013 Art for Aid has been shipping art supplies from September to May annually to remote, resource challenged Indigenous schools and youth art programs. Art is a powerful tool to support positive mental health, break isolation and keep youth busy exploring new ways to create. But we can’t do this successfully without public engagement. It’s beautiful initiatives like the one we saw today that put Art for Aid on the map. Our program is entirely volunteer run and we do not charge the schools for our support services or for the significant shipping costs to get the boxes out to them.

Art for Aid is volunteer powered and we raise all our own fund for shipping and operations. To support our work you can make a monetary donation to our project here: https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/the-art-for-aid-project-colleen-gray or you can donate new or gently used art supplies. Our needs list is at www.artforaid.ca. Please read it carefully before beginning a collection. To support our work through our Shopify fundraising store, go shopping at www.artforaidshop.ca

Art for Aid is a non-profit project under the Canadian registered charity, Soaring Circle.

05/16/2026

05/01/2026

This past January Art for Aid sent a shipment of art supplies to the Clearwater Dene School in Saskatchewan. They were kind enough to send us some images of their students' creative endeavors. Look at those wonderful creations using the wood burning tools that were part of the shipment - well done!
This is creative learning in action. We're grateful for the support of people who believe Indigenous youth should have access to quality art learning tools!

To support Art for Aid you can donate to help! Art for Aid is a program of the Canadian registered charity, Soaring Circle.
Donations to Art for Aid can be made here:
https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/the-art-for-aid-project-colleen-gray

04/29/2026

Fuel surcharges amount to $210.44 to deliver 4 boxes of snowshoes for a land-based learning program.
These are crippling costs for our program. Art for Aid does not receive sustained funding - we raise the money to ship the items the schools need. Please support this important work if you can.
To learn more visit www.artforaid.ca

04/29/2026

Debby will be set up next to the Art for Aid tent. Pay for your kit at the Art for Aid booth before beginning your session.

04/26/2026

I am frequently asked how Art for Aid came to be. This is that story.

The Indigenous Cultural Fair is on May 9th from 9:30 - 3pm. This is a primary fundraiser for Art for Aid so please come out and support Indigenous culture in your community - live, learn, love, and laugh with us while supporting Art for Aid!
www.artforaid.ca