Despite the social distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Lethbridge alumna and local artist Brittany Lewis (BA ’16) has found ways to give back to her community.
As the owner of Jasmine&Charcoal, Lewis creates custom portraits and prints, ranging from children to families to pets. During this time of social distancing, Lewis and her family have been spending time gardening and drawing. One day as she was drawing with her five-year-old daughter, Lewis started sketching the fiddle-leaf fig plant that sits on her dining room table. She came up with the ‘stay home and plant things’ caption to describe how her family has coped with the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. She wanted to get the message out more broadly and came up with an idea that would also help those in need.
“I felt compelled to do something to give back to a community that has shown me so much support over the five years I have owned Jasmine&Charcoal,” she says. “I am honoured to be part of a group of local small business owners — many of whom I consider friends — who are struggling to survive after pouring their hearts and souls into their businesses. So many are now struggling to make bill payments, feed their families and survive financially while worrying about the illness itself.”
She wanted to do a fundraiser for the Lethbridge Food Bank, so she got in touch with Impressions Gifts & Gourmet and together they came up with a plan to print the fiddle-leaf fig plant with the ‘stay home and plant things’ caption on T-shirts. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from the sales of these T-shirts will be donated to the food bank.
Lewis has also been instrumental in bringing joy and excitement to sidewalks in Lethbridge. From cartoon characters to birthday messages, she’s been creating vibrant chalk art to cheer up friends and neighbours.
To purchase a T-shirt, send an email to jasmineandcharcoal@gmail.com