Grace House is a shelter in Erie that supports women veterans as they make their journey home and reinvent themselves in society.

Grace House provides a safe, homelike environment that offers community and supportive services for women veterans. Their goal is to help transition veterans to be self-sufficient and stable within the community.

Senior communication majors Jackie Hartz, Jen Mieczkowski, Grazia Padgett, Melanie Zuccarini, Kristen Grenga and myself are working to raise awareness and provide funding for Grace House.

We are doing so by continuing an art auction that was started last year by Jordan Zangaro, a Mercyhurst senior at the time.

Artists can participate as individuals or on a team of up to five people. Participants will have six weeks to transform elegant dresses bought for $10 into one-of-a-kind works of art. There are no rules when it comes to inspiration—it is completely up to the artist.

Artists can shop for dresses furnished by Grace House from March 21 to 25 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the lower level of the Audrey Hirt Academic Center. Completed art may be returned to Hirt between noon and 3 p.m. May 2-6.

“The fact that this cause is to help women veterans who have voluntarily served our country is a reason that I needed to jump on board immediately. I knew the money raised is going to benefit these women so much,” Mieczkowski said.

Padgett said she is proud to be part of this fundraiser and hopes that students will participate.

Artists will donate their item to be auctioned off at the “Women in Transition: Silent Art Auction” Monday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mercyhurst College’s Cummings Art Gallery.

All proceeds from the auction will go to Grace House.

“I hope students get involved—their participation would mean the world to us and the women veterans,” Zuccarini said.

Entrants are responsible for all finances needed to create their artwork. The artwork must be named and artists identified. For details about the event, contact Jackie Hartz or Jen Mieczkowski by email.