Pottery for a Purpose uses art to give back at The Whole Child

Six members of Pottery for a Purpose (P4P), a club whose purpose is to use pottery and other art forms to give back to the community, painted with children during a visit to the Whole Child, a non-profit organization in Downey, on Wednesday, Apr. 22.

“P4P was searching for a meaningful way to incorporate outreach into our club,” club leader Ellie Oh ’29 said. “It was a great opportunity to highlight the purpose in P4P.”

To prepare for the event, members coordinated with The Whole Child and gathered supplies needed for the event. Students repurposed old materials donated by visual arts teacher Heather Trawick, such as notebooks, into something fresh and new. They brought together paint, canvases and paintbrushes to make sure the activity ran smoothly.

At the Whole Child, club members painted alongside the children and encouraged them throughout the activity. For many students, the event provided an opportunity to connect with the children in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

“It was very enjoyable to paint with the kids at the Whole Child because it wasn’t a process that was incredibly stressful or something that required a lot of skill,” Alice Lee ’29 said. “It just required a lot of enthusiasm and sincerity, and it was nice to be in an environment that was very chill and where everyone was there for the same reason.”

For some members, one of the most memorable parts of the event was seeing the children express themselves through their artwork.

“A moment that really stood out for me was watching the variety of different art styles from the kids,” club co-founder Ted Ok ’29 said. “Each piece gave me insight into what they enjoy in life. For example, a girl named Chloe drew a garden of flowers, which showed me her interest in nature.”

This service project also gave members a deeper appreciation for the importance of making creative opportunities accessible to others.

“It’s important to recognize that access to art materials is not something every child has,” Lee said. “Watching the kids paint showed how important art can be as a universal way to connect.”

This experience not only allowed members to share their love of art with the children, but also reminded them of the role creativity can play in bringing people together. The event reflected P4P’s mission of creating purpose through art and service.