Painting It Forward: meet Richard Russell

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I found myself back in Birmingham after many years. Some aspects of those days appear sharp in my mind and some are just a haze. What always stands out to me is that CJFS was there for me and my family. Over time, adjusting to our new community, our needs ebbed and flowed. We knew that whether it was counseling to deal with loss and change, or financial assistance to make due while life was in flux, or a group to reconnect with others who were displaced from New Orleans, we could turn to CJFS.

Everyone had their own way of venting their emotions from Katrina. Mine was to paint, and I painted from the heart. I donated prints to CJFS and other charities in gratitude and to help raise money for the victims.  When disaster struck in Alabama in April, I knew CJFS may need my support again. In December, I will be involved in a benefit to pay it forward by giving proceeds of sales of some of my paintings to CJFS. At the CJFS Dine to Donate at Max’s Deli on December 6th, I will be signing Alabama and Auburn football prints for a donation. We will tally which team gets the most support for CJFS so I hope you’ll join us!