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An event centered on the sales of various arts and crafts is set to take place this weekend to benefit a Chillicothe-based mentoring program for teens. Chillicothe’s Paper City Coffee will hold its “Makers Fair” this coming Sunday, September 15th to benefit the Paper City Mentoring Project.
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Anna Purpero is the director of the Paper City Mentoring Project.
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"The Paper City Mentoring Project exists to connect local teenagers with trained mentors to facilitate healthy and supportive mentoring relationships," said Anna. "We match local teenagers with mentors that we train and basically they're just someone to be in their corner, someone to be a role model, someone to hang with and provide a positive voice in their lives."
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The local mentoring program serves around thirty high-school-age students per year, with the group meeting once each week at Paper City Coffee. The proceeds from the coffee sales are put back into the program.
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Anna says the idea for the local mentoring project took shape several years ago when its founders, former educators, noticed some of the kids in their class lacked a proper adult role model.
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"We decided to work with high schoolers because we really saw a need for that in the community. We took care of the students in our classroom the best we could but so many of them were walking out of our classroom and really didn't have anyone to help them make small everyday and big life decisions," said Anna. "We've really been grateful for all the people from all different walks of life coming and willing to spend an hour a week with a local teen, just to let them know somebody thinks they have potential and cares about them."
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Anna says this Sunday’s Makers Fair will take place between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. with Paper City Coffee, which is usually closed on Sundays, open for business. Proceeds raised will be put back into the local mentoring program.
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"We have rounded up some local artists, makers and creatives from all over the State of Ohio," said Anna. "They'll be setting up their booths with home decor, jewelry, baked goods and all different types of unique gifts. They'll be setting up across from Paper City Coffee on the corner of 4th and Paint Street. It'll just be kind of a shopping extravaganza for people to come and shop, and support the Paper City Mentoring Project."
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You can find more information about Sunday’s Makers Fair, and the Paper City Mentoring Project by visiting the group's facebook and Instagram pages and on the Paper City website. There you'll find information on why Paper City exists, how to get involved, and how to refer a teen. Simply click on the "Do Good" tab.