Local artist seeking donations for youth art supply drive

PALMER— Local artist and hairstylist Mariah Johnson is currently seeking donations for an art supply drive for her new group, Art for Kids.

Art supplies such as colored pencils, paint, sketchbooks, canvases, and coloring books can be donated at Alpenglow Hair Studio during business hours through March 1. All donated materials will go directly to local children across the Valley.

“It’s pretty much the perfect spot,” Johnson said.

Johnson runs a booth at Alpenglow Hair Studio. She said that she’s thankful for the opportunity to host her fundraiser at the studio. She said the owner, Andrea Hooks has been involved in numerous community projects and donated to various Valley organizations.

“She always gives what she can,” Johnson said.

Art for Kids is an up-and-coming grassroots project with Johnson as the sole founder and operator. She said that she’s currently working to build a board of directors to eventually establish the group as an official nonprofit organization. She’s actively seeking volunteers and anyone interested in becoming a board member.

“There are so many possibilities and outcomes in the future. We have a lot of people reaching out and wanting to help. We’ll see where this goes. I’ve got a lot of positive feedback so far,” Johnson said. “Art has helped me so much in my life. It’s such a healthy coping mechanism… I just wanted to give back to my community. I really wanted to volunteer and make an impact.”

Johnson said that she recently dropped off art supplies at local schools and the Palmer Police Department. She said that she plans to keep holding art supply drives throughout the year, and she has her eyes set on expanding her overall reach across the state to help as many Alaskan children have access to art as she can.

“I can’t be a mother to all the children, but this is something small that I can do to help kids with coping,” Johnson said. “I don’t see the need going away. As long as kids want to do art, we’ll keep trying to provide art supplies.”

Alpenglow Hair Studio is located at 101 West Arctic Avenue, Suite 5 in downtown Palmer.

For more information about Art for Kids, call 907-713-6524 or visit facebook.com/artforkids.ak.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com