Art for Healing: Painting With A Twist and Samaritan Counseling Host Free Event for Hurricane Survivors
Business owners along the Suncoast are still in limbo. Limbo looks like anything from not being back in their homes to running their businesses from home or in borrowed space from other charitable business owners. During this season of waiting, they are also in need of emotional healing.
One community partnership is using art to help families and business owners who were impacted by the hurricanes. This partnership, made possible by a grant from the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, is between Painting With A Twist and Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast. Both area Painting With A Twist locations are hosting a free, one-night family event April 17th at 6PM.
“We believe in the power of art to heal, and we are excited to provide an evening of fun for adults and children recovering from last year’s traumatic hurricanes,” said Hope Kinney and Sheri Penxa, co-owners of the Sarasota and Bradenton stores. “We continue to witness the healing that happens in our studios, so we can’t wait to be part of this effort to serve our Suncoast family.”
John Gregory, committee chair of the Sarasota County Long Term Recovery Group’s Mental Health and Spiritual Care Committee, watched partnerships like this produce transformational results in 2024. “Through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations as well as local small business owners, we provided avenues for healing in addition to traditional mental health counseling. Avenues like yoga, massage, equine assisted learning, and art help aid healing in unique ways that are just as impactful, if not even more. We are pursuing every method possible to provide healing and hope to our community.”
To participate in the Healing the Suncoast through Art events at Painting With A Twist on April 17, start by picking your location. Seats are limited for the Bradenton event at 5917 Manatee Ave. W. The Sarasota location is at 5543 Palmer Crossing Circle. Register on either website using the code SUNCOAST and grab your seat(s) for this free event.
Painting With a Twist Sarasota Website
Painting With a Twist Bradenton Website
Photo from Samaritan Counseling Center