Art for Good

press release: On Sunday, March 13, 2016, from 1-4 p.m., Elver Park Neighborhood Center (EPNC) will host Art for Good, an event to raise funds for the renovation of the center’s kitchen. The event will have various art projects to interest kids of all ages. Families can donate to a good cause and take home some great art. EPNC serves meals daily to low-income children and youth in southwest Madison.  Each year, over 250 children and youth have access to cooking classes, nutrition education and daily meals through the EPNC kitchen. This renovation will allow us to dramatically improve the services that are offered.

In the EPNC kitchen, youth learn how to plan meals, use nutritious food grown in our garden and cooking skills, while working together with caring staff to prepare and serve family style meals at the center.  Like many homes, the EPNC kitchen is the heart of the center and a favorite gathering place for many youth, teens and families. We have been writing grants and raising funds for this project since the summer of 2015. We are honored to have been awarded grants from the Madison Community Foundation and the Evjue Foundation. Our youth have raised funds by selling artwork at the Elver Park Fireworks display. These funds together with a generous donation from our contractor, Legacy Builders Group, give us a great start to doing a full renovation of the kitchen, including updated appliances, increased counter space, increased storage space, and safer areas for cooking and food preparation. This will enhance the functionality of the kitchen as both a gathering space for teens and families and a classroom for nutrition and life skills education.  

EPNC, located in the Wisconsin Youth Company administrative building at 1201 McKenna Blvd. in Madison, opened in 2003 when the City of Madison asked Wisconsin Youth Company to run programs for low-income, at risk youth. The program began serving a light after school snack in 2010 and now serves nightly dinners to teens, hosts monthly family nights and seasonal public community events.  

"The staff, students and volunteers of EPNC are excited to expand our ability to care for our neighbors with nutritious food and an improved gathering space,” said Rebecca Carlin, Assistant Executive Director, Wisconsin Youth Company.  The Elver Park Neighborhood Center continues to seek funding and donations to expand and improve the center kitchen and other projects. In order to complete the project we need to raise an additional $10,000.

www.wisconsinyouthcompany.org