Sandy Hook Children Wrapped in Comfort, Art & Sugar at the SHACK

Comfort quilts, comfort dogs and sweet treats put smiles on the painted faces of hundreds of children in attendance at Sandy Hook's spring fling block party on Saturday, April 28, 2013. Volunteers at the SHACK (Sandy Hook Arts Center for Kids) tent in the back parking lot behind the Sandy Hook Deli offered comfort in the form of quilted artwork and hugs from furry four-legged friends. Children enjoyed coloring donated quilts they got to take home and gettign lots of love from the Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs, a regular part of SHACK activities and events.

The line at the face-painting table was about 20 deep while kids enjoyed playing with bubbles and dancing in the sunlight of the gorgeous, spring day. Volunteers from the Newtown High School Creative Cultural Arts Council (CCAC) made over 250 snow cones to the delight of many red and blue-faced customers. SHACK t-shirts and bracelets were sold to help raise funds to continue ongoing free workshops and programs. To get your "SHACK Swag," please email sandyhookartscenter@gmail.com.

The SHACK is a non-profit arts center with the mission of providing a safe haven for children and families to come and create artwork and heal through art, music and pet therapy. Beginning on January 19, 2013, the art center has helped bring families together through free family drum circles, free pop-in art painting sessions every Friday, ukulele workshops, puppet shows and regular visits with therapy dogs.

The SHACK is a member of S.H.O.P., Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity and was happy to be a part of this, and many more upcoming events. For more information about free art/music/pet therapy, free workshops and low-cost classes and events, please visit The SHACK's website at www.sandyhookartscenter.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

@SandyHookArts

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