Young Kingston artist uses talent to help homeless, veterans

A Kingston youngster is using her talents to help the homeless.

Ten-year-old Lylia Essaddam is selling gnome-themed valentine cards with proceeds going to Martha’s Table, a local non-profit organization that provides low-cost nutritious meals to those in need,

She designs and paints the cards, selling for $5 apiece. Her ultimate goal is to raise more than $1,000 by February 14th.

“I’ve been there and I saw homeless and I felt really bad because they really weren’t dressed-up well,” said Essaddam. “They had ripped shirts, some of them. I know some of them are sick and they have issues.”

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This is nothing new for the grade 5 student. Last December, Essaddam created 200 holiday cards with proceeds also going to Martha’s Table.

This time around, she’s doing some military-themed gnome cards that will benefit Veterans Affairs Canada’s, ‘Valentines for Vets’ project.

As for the creative process, Essaddam says that continues.

“I have so many creations,” she said. “Like one on a farm, one in a zoo and stuff like that. And sometimes I’ll do a lot of the gnomes together. I do my creations and picture what I can do in my head.”

For more on the fundraiser go to ‘Gnome for a Home’ Facebook page.

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