Hand-painted Valentine cards benefit crisis nursery

NEW ULM -- A collection of hand-painted, original Valentine's Day cards are available through Valentine's Day at New Ulm's Very Own fair trade store, 212 N. Minnesota St.

Original, watercolor artwork of Kara Carlson, the cards can be purchased for donations, matched by the store, to support the Ivy House Southern Minnesota Crisis Nursery. The cards are available during weekend shop hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday prior to Valentine's Day.

The store features fair trade products like chocolates, coffee, tea, gifts, jewelry and other products handcrafted by artisans in developing countries around the world that lack market access, business skills and tools needed to grow.

In addition, the store features artwork created by local artisans.

"Twenty twenty was a better year for us than 2019," said store coordinator Jeanie Hinsman. "People really make an effort to support local, small business."

Store profits support local charities such as NUMAS Haus which provides emergency shelter and support services to area homeless, single-mother families with school age children.

The crisis nursery serves anyone who calls and asks for help taking care of their children due to stressful situations. Children from newborn to age 12 can stay at the crisis nursery at no cost for an hour or up to 72 hours at a time, for a total of 30 days in a year.

The nursery has a 1:3 caregiver to child ratio. It is a non-profit organization supported by donations and grants.

Like all organizations that work with children in Minnesota, the crisis nursery is required to report suspected abuse and neglect.

Contact the crisis nursery at any time at 507-766-6925.

The store fair trade store features Carlson's new children's book "A Little Story about Sidewalk Chalk Art." The book features her chalk art drawings she created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early in the pandemic, Carlson learned of citizens writing positive messages on sidewalks to raise morale. She saw the messages as a great pastime and way to release the pressure of living under COVID.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.