Middle school students complete rain barrel project for MRC benefit
Following a theme of “Captiva But Not Caught,” Tylor Stewart’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from The Sanibel School recently completed an art project on behalf of the Sanibel-Captiva Chapter of the Southwest Florida Medical Reserve Corps Foundation.
Classes spent the past two weeks planning, plotting, painting and putting the finishing colorful touches on a large plastic rain barrel that will be auctioned off as part of “Operation Rain Barrel,” a fundraiser for the Southwest Florida Medical Reserve Corps (SWFLMRC) in order to purchase medical supplies and equipment for their organization.
“When it arrived, I thought it was really, really big,” said Lauren Lockard, a seventh grade student in Stewart’s class. “Then I worried how we were ever going to cover it up with art.”
According to Stewart, her students began to brainstorm ideas of what elements, characters and designs they wanted to include on the barrel. Then, it needed a theme to follow.
“The first thing I thought of was, ‘It’s a rain barrel. The theme should be water and rain,'” said sixth grader Olin Peck, who Stewart credited with conceiving the theme for the school’s entry. “Then everybody started thinking about doing a Sanibel sunset, so we looked at some photos. I like that we used a lot of oranges and reds on it.”
Fellow sixth grader Haley Keller explained some of the artistic elements included in the artwork and how it follows the theme, “Captive But Not Caught.”
“Raindrops are captive in the atmosphere, but they’re not caught there because they always fall down to the earth,” said Keller. “Bubbles are captive underneath the water, but they always rise to the surface and aren’t caught. The sun is captiva in the solar system but not caught. And fish are captive in the ocean without being caught.”
Stewart noted that all of her pupils worked extremely hard of the project, which was completed last Friday morning.
“Even though it was difficult, there are some really creative kids in my classes,” she added. “And we also learned about why rain barrels are important. They can save water and help us become more sustainable. Rain is one of those resources we have all the time.”
Other students taking part in the art project included Isaac Bender, Griffin Kupsaw, Grant Reel, Mitchell Rice, Kendal Steele, Tess Nader, Sam Roberts, Thomas Rizzo and Sara Hayes.
The school’s rain barrel, one of 15 one-of-a-kind pieces of art, will be auctioned off next month. “Operation Rain Barrel” was planned by members of the SWFLMRC as a way to protect the environment, save money and energy while at the same time supporting a great community cause.
“The silent auction of artistically painted rain barrels has a goal of $25,000 to buy medical supplies and equipment for the Southwest Florida MRC,” said Jeanne Hamilton, who along with Dr. Pat Santucci is coordinating a series of events and activities to help increase awareness about the group.
In addition to The Sanibel School’s talented young painters, a number of local artists — including CC Caldwell, Alisha Cooper, Jesse Cooper, Mary Ann Czarnecki, Mary Ann DeVos, Randon Eddy, Jane Hudson, Laura Meyer, Thom Millsap, Sue Ross, Jan Rozeboom, Casandra Soobitsky, Dorothy Wallace and Haley Capobianco — generously donated their time to artistically paint rain barrels for the fundraiser.
Artists and their work will be highlighted and sold at silent auction, with the official opening of bids starting this Friday, Feb. 18. The final day of bidding and an exhibit of the barrels will take place on Saturday, March 5. All of the barrels will be exhibited at Cip’s Place (2055 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live chamber music, provided by cellist Norma Gillespie, violinist Jonathan Lawrence and violist Alfonso Giordano, will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the close of bidding at 4 p.m. Only cash or checks will be accepted for payment.
Additional information and photographs of the painted rain barrels are available at www.swflmrcfound.org.
The Medical Reserve Corps is a nationwide network of over 200,000 organized volunteers who respond the disasters and community health crisis. The Southwest Florida MRC has over 600 members, including the San-Cap MRC Chapter.
“During disasters such as hurricanes, the MRC may be deployed to help at the local hospitals, assist other medical or disaster agencies or staff special need shelters for the medically frail,” said Dr. Santucci. “MRC volunteers also provide on-site first aid to survivors and responders.”
MRC Disaster First Aid stations need tents, cots, blankets, an ample supply of bandages, splints, suture and wound care kits, along with pharmacy support.
In addition, the MRC responds to mass casualty events. A specially trained Southwest Florida MRC Airport Disaster Response Team can reach the airport within 15 minutes. Reaching victims rapidly and having life saving equipment readily available is crucial. In order to be most effective, each “mini” trauma team should carry a trauma bag.
According to Dr. Santucci, more trauma bags and additional supplies are desperately needed, along with key items such as an AED, oxygen delivery kits, IV set ups, pulse oximeters, airways and ambu bags for adults and children, blood pressure cuffs, otoscopes, opthalmoscopes, etc.
During non-disaster times, strengthening the health and safety of their community is a priority. Outreach programs for detection of diabetes and hypertension is done on a monthly basis. In the near future, the MRC hopes to be able to add new screening programs for the homeless, indigent and rural underserved areas but will need to purchase additional supplies, including glucose monitoring kits.
Becoming a member of the Southwest Florida MRC automatically connects individuals to a wide range of opportunities to volunteer during disasters and in times of need, both on a local and national level. Medical liability is provided.
If you are interested in learning more about the group or becoming a member, attending an orientation or training program or would like to support the mission of the MRC, please contact Deb Gary at 239-542-4887 or visit www.swflmrc.org.