area, with Feeding America’s “Map
the Meal Gap” project revealing
21.3% of Baltimore County residents
are classified as food insecure.

Through art, community members
can learn about this essential work,
and more importantly, say thank you.

“Food for Thought” includes a
hands-on component to thank food
service staff for their underappreciated
work, including a letter-writing station to
send notes to workers who impacted them
as students, with wider letter-writing cam-
paigns being planned for the future.

In much the same way, students enter-
ing the Virginia Lottery’s annual “Thank a
Teacher” art contest have found a way to
thank teachers that have affected them in a
positive way.

Jocelyn Turman, an eighth grade stu-
dent at Edward Drew Middle School in
Fredericksburg, Virginia—about 45 min-
utes southwest of Quantico, in Northern
Virginia—won the contest in 2022.

Beginning with a campaign from 2016 to
2017 that collected notes to teachers who’d
had a positive impact on people’s lives,
the art contest determining the illustra
illustra- tions that would appear on these notes
began in 2018.

“Teachers deal with so much every single
day. They are underpaid, work long hours,
teach multiple classes and have to teach so
many different students,” says Jocelyn. “I
think it’s amazing that they can deal with all
of that and still support all of us.”
The contest racked up 700 entries for
2023, with judging for the elementary, mid-
dle and high school divisions currently
underway. In addition to having student art
featured, the school districts of each winner
will also receive money for purchasing addi-
tional school supplies.

“We know that our educators are going
above and beyond each and every day to
shape the lives of Virginia’s future leaders,”
says Jennifer Mullen, the lottery’s
director of public affairs and com
com- munity relations. “They’re putting
in the blood, sweat and tears every
single day to work with these stu
stu- dents. I think every Virginian should
be thanking them for what they do.”
All proceeds of the state’s lottery
also benefit public education.

For Jocelyn, using art to show her appre-
ciation for her favorite teachers is only
fitting. She lists her elementary and mid-
dle school art teachers among the ones who
have impacted her the most, helping her
discover her passion for art.

“I think art is special because it’s a way to
show the world how you see things... There
are so many different kinds of art in which
to express yourself, and I love that every-
one’s art is unique to them,” she says.

Though art can be a great tool for educa-
tion, the very nature of art is one that can
connect us with people and ideas around
us—and as it educates us, it also brings to
light the teachers and staff members that
make that education possible. 1
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