Tom Kretsch is a longtime Westport, a retired teacher — and a noted photographer. He writes:
The warmth of the holiday spirit was alive and well in Branson Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church last Wednesday evening.
Festive decorated tables, a tasty dinner, a large assortment of home-baked desserts, holiday music drifting through the air, and of course the arrival of Santa Claus for young ones.
The occasion was Homes with Hope‘s annual holiday party for the many people blessed to have the help and services of this fabulous organization.
In addition to Gillespie Shelter for men and Hoskins Place for women, they offer affordable housing for those in need, meals, a food pantry, counseling, tutoring and so much more.
It was a joy to be there as a guest and a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, which had organized a special “Art from the Heart” project. Through donations by members, every family at the party could choose a piece through a free raffle.
As dinner wound down, it was time for folks to choose their favorites. Everyone had time to view the art beforehand.
Admiring art, before the raffle.
Watching all this evolve was heartwarming. A mother and daughter chose a piece of gorgeous mystical flowers.
A man dressed in holiday clothing chose a stunning portrait of a horse. He held it, then raised it over his head as if he had just won the Super Bowl, singing out in glee.
I walked up to a woman who had chosen one of my photographs, a huge Ferris wheel taken in Wildwood, New Jersey. I introduced myself and told her a little about the image. She was so pleased, and asked to have a picture taken of us.
Tom Kretsch’s Ferris wheel photo.
Ken Runkel, an artist who donated a piece, also spoke with the people who had chosen his. He too was touched by the warmth and gratitude of the recipients.
And so, it went on until the last piece was taken.
As many were gathered by the piano singing holiday songs, I chatted with Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope. With her sweet Irish accent and always positive spirit, she is a dynamic and charismatic leader.
As we talked, she told me in a whisper that one of the people who had gotten a photograph said to her, “I wish I had a wall to put it on.”
I almost couldn’t comprehend what I had just heard. Is this possible? Here in Westport, someone does not have a wall of their own to put a picture up. He has no personal space.
That touched the core of my being.
Art can do so much for a person — whether making it or looking at it. It can help comfort, soothe, inspire, create, think, imagine, hope, change, care, heal and smile.
The Artists Collective of Westport made a nice step toward bringing art into people’s lives who might not have the means to purchase it through its holiday “Art from the Heart” project.
The next morning Helen took me on a tour of the Gillespie Center. She showed me the fantastic food pantry, and all the facilities of the recently renovated center. I had not been there in a while.
As we walked through the men’s shelter, I passed several of the beds. Lying on them were the pieces of art they received the night before.
I am sure the wish for a “wall of their own” was also in their thoughts.
Phil Ochs wrote a song some years ago, called “There but for Fortune.” It speaks to the fragility of life:
I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
And there but for fortune go you or I, you and I.
As we look at our walls, may we all remember our own good fortune.
