NEWS
Main Street Center Fundraiser
Karen F. Rhodes captures “Looking Across to Onteora Mountain” in a watercolor work.
WINDHAM - A visit to the Main Street Community Center in Windham on almost any Monday afternoon shows far better than words one of the reasons for their upcoming February 8 “Fine Art Fundraiser.”
Right around 3 p.m., kids in Pre-K to 4th grade pour out of a Windham-Ashland-Jewett school bus for the regular Art Odyssey class, happily removing winter coats to learn in a warm, well-lighted place.
Donations mostly that program and many others possible as the non-profit Center is entering its fifth successful year, continuing to leave an indelible mark on the lives of children, adults and families.
“This is my first auction,” says Center executive director Sadhbh Lavery, readying for the charitable evening that begins at 5 p.m. with an hors d’oeuvres cocktail hour, followed at 6 p.m. by an art auction.
“It takes many hands to make this work. Our board of directors thought of this event. We have an amazing group of volunteers that formed the fundraising committee and are bringing it together,” Lavery says.
“To me, the most encouraging part about this is that we are seeing the need we are filling in the community. We are filling a real niche.
“That is happening because of how adaptable we are, with so many people coming in here all the time, letting us know what fits them, and we can go with the flow from there,” Lavery says.
The fundraiser is open to all artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, etc., and has a January 19 deadline for submission.
“We have a wonderful network of artists participating. Quite a few are from the Windham Arts Alliance and others are independent,” Lavery says.
Anthony Petsky from Lincoln Auctions will be leading the bidding battle which will be friendly and hopefully very profitable.
“We are absolutely testing the waters. We aren’t sure how this will turn out. Would it be fabulous to make $25,000?” Lavery says, smiling.
“Yes, it would be, but we will be absolutely appreciative for whatever we can raise. Every penny counts in the world of non-profits.
“The most important thing is being able to keep showcasing the community. Our thinking is, ‘Let’s do something exciting and different. Let’s kick off year-five strong!’” Lavery says.
Monday afternoons from 3 to 4 p.m. are not the only hours the Main Street Community Center is buzzing, operating 6 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays).
“The Center offers a wide variety of programs designed to enrich the lives of community members from toddlers to seniors,” their Winter Brochure states.
“By providing a safe, reliable and welcoming place for the community to gather, the Center fosters a sense of belonging and promotes overall well-being,” the brochure states.
The Center, beyond community unity, offers social connection, personal development, support and resources and lifelong learning.
Some of the youth programs include “Science Frontiers; Discovering the World Around Us,” “Robotics Explorers: Build, Code, Achieve” and “Teen Art for a Change: Positive Stencil Painting.”
Adult and family programs feature “Author Talks” (meeting real life writers and hearing their stories), “Basic Conversational Spanish” and “Pierogi Party: A Taste of the Ukraine,” a hands-on cooking class.
Tickets for the Fine Arts Fundraiser are $100 in advance, $125 at the door. “Your support helps us make magic happen,” Lavery says, noting, “every dollar raised from this event will go directly toward maintaining and expanding the Center’s programs.”