The assignment for Paige, an 11th grader in Sue Silverstein’s radical art class at Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, N.Y., was to take a styrofoam cooler and make some art out of it. It sure would have stumped me, but 11th grader Paige decided to make a Christmas cave out with the styrofoam and the other Christmas baubles sent to Sue for her art class.

Sue has created a whole new context for art education in money-pressed schools. She asks for people to send discarded items of all kinds, from old clothes and jewelry to wood, lamps, and styrofoam coolers, and she is putting her magic on it and letting her students run.

They are having a blast, scrambling to make unique Christmas gifts for themselves, their families, poor kids with nothing for the tree, and their friends.

This program is one of the most exciting, creative, and practical things the Army of Good has done. Please keep it up if you can.

You can send discarded objects (not dirty things) to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2500 Albany St., Schenectady, N.Y., 12308. It’s too late for Christmas, but the artwork initiative continues right after New Year’s. Thanks so much. Sue always needs acrylic paint and canvases of all sizes.

She also runs out of boxed instant noodle soup to give hungry students without breakfast. She can also  use healthy protein bars.

Art matters, the students love what she is doing, and she has found a creative new way. Some of the kids don’t get breakfast because their parents are out working early. Other families don’t have the money for three meals a day. Sue opens her classes early so hungry kids can come in with some privacy and get a warm and nourishing breakfast. The noodles go fast.

Congratulations to Paige and Sue; you and your students always surprise me. And thanks to the Army of Good, which never fails to help when asked.