In September 2024, local watches and warnings for Hurricane Helene shifted north from coastal South Carolina. The storm eventually tore through Augusta, Georgia, and parts of Western North Carolina, especially Asheville. Those who had been in the early path of the storm were relieved, but sad for those who lost their homes.
When classes resumed at Sea Pines Montessori Academy at Hilton Head Prep, and the ART Club (Altruistic Response Team) met again, teacher Debi West talked with her students, ages 7 to 10, about the effects of the storm on children in those areas.
“I asked them, ‘What if we came back to our school after a storm and all our art was gone?’” West said. “We talked about what that loss might feel like to other kids their age. Then, we talked about how we might help other schools after their losses.”
West and her students have been active in “selling” their coloring books for a $10 donation.
The group decided that they wanted to send inspirational messages, and they also wanted to raise money and donate it to other schools to help in their recovery from the storm’s damage. The next question was “Can we do both of those things to help others?”
“We were brainstorming for ideas and suddenly 8-year-old Tamara said, ‘I love coloring books!’” West said. “And we all knew that was the answer.”
“I was just thinking about the hurricanes and what we could do to raise money,” Tamara said of her inspiration for the project. “I thought we should send them peace and love.”
Teacher Debi West works with her art students at Sea Pines Montessori.
It was just the altruistic response West had expected from her students.
“This goes back to my philosophy of art with a purpose,” the veteran teacher said. “I can teach them about line, shape, and subject, but I want them to be creative and purposeful with their art too.”
The students immediately got to work drawing coloring-book-style pictures – peaceful scenes, hearts, birds, flowers, a waterfall, a guitar, peace signs, and words of comfort.
West said that as the children made their drawings, they talked about their hopes for their counterparts in storm-damaged areas. The primary messages were “peace” and “love,” themes that appear throughout their book.
Asked about their thoughts and inspiration for the pictures they drew, ART Club members were ready with answers.
Dexter, age 9, created a scene of dolphins and a beach, “because the beach is peaceful,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy that we could do this to help others.”
Cami, also 9, drew outlined words of “peace,” “love,” and “joy” from stencils. “I always want to help people and I’m happy to help change their lives.”
“I like doing art and I like getting to share it with others,” said 7-year-old Sophie. “It makes me happy – and I hope they like our art.”
Nine-year-old Adrian drew a waterfall with the word “harmony” in the pool below it. “Harmony is quiet and peaceful and waterfalls are too,” she said. “It is sad to see some people lose all their things. I hope this will help them to not feel lost.”
Clouds of “peace” and “love” float above a field of flowers in 10-year-old William’s drawing. “It expresses a nice, peaceful feeling,” he said. “I think this project was a good idea.”
Ellie, 10, said peace signs are popular, “so I drew one, and I think people will enjoy coloring it,” she said. “I also have a bearded dragon, so I drew one for the book. Also a river.”
Nine-year-old Kaan said he chose to share positivity with the words “Have a Nice Day” above a drawing of a boy’s smiling face – adding a star to represent the “shine on his tooth.”
West collected the students’ drawings and realized her eight students had created more than 30 pages. They chose 24 of the drawings to be included in the “SPMA Coloring Book of Peace.”
West took the pages to Staples on Palmetto Bay Road. “The manager, Randy Chandler, was kind enough to listen to my story of this project,” she said. “Then he donated the printing of 50 books.”
West and her students have been active in “selling” their coloring books for a $10 donation. The first printing is nearly sold out.
“We were able to send out our messages of peace and love, as well as donate $500 to Beloved Asheville,” West said. Another donation is being collected for a school in Augusta.
The coloring book project is not the first altruistic effort of the ART Club. ART Team members have also made pinwheels for International Peace Day. They painted Kindness Rocks for a garden to be installed somewhere on the island. Club members also made art trading cards and traded them with students at Milton High School in Fulton County, near Atlanta.
A second printing of the Coloring Book of Peace is in the works, with proceeds continuing to go to hurricane survivors. For information and to purchase, email dewestudio@gmail.com.
