Last Christmas, something incredible happened right here in the Coast studio. Through the collective efforts of our community for Coast’s first-ever Creative Christmas Drive, we were able to donate almost 50 Christmas gifts to vulnerable youth across Coffs Harbour. The gifts were filled with art supplies to inspire imagination, growth, and expression. The response was profound, the impact was heartwarming, and the smiles will stay in our memories forever.
That’s why this year, we’re back to do it all again. But this time, we’re dreaming bigger.
A Community Initiative That Grew Beyond Our Expectations
When we launched Coast’s Creative Christmas Drive last year, we had hoped to make a little difference in some children’s lives. What we actually discovered was a fantastic community of people who deeply cared for our local youth and understood and appreciated the power of creativity. Parents, local creatives, businesses, and individuals made their way to our studio, dropping off sketchbooks, paints, journals, and countless other supplies that would become gateways to imagination and self-expression for local youth in need.
Our partners at Groundworks Youth & Family Hub shared stories with us of young people lighting up as they unwrapped these gifts, not just because they were receiving something new, but because someone cared enough to invest in their creative potential. For many of these kids and teens, these simple art supplies become tools for healing, hope, and self-discovery in an unstable world where they face homelessness, family violence, or mental health challenges.
How You Can Get Involved
This year, there are three ways you can join us in sparking creativity:…
-
Become a Business Sponsor (Best for Local Businesses)
We’re inviting local Coffs Harbour businesses to become official sponsors with a monetary donation of $250. This donation allows us to purchase 10 gifts on your organisation’s behalf. (Yes, we’ll do the shopping for you!)
Update: A big THANK YOU to our current sponsors: Stoka Coffee Co, The Town Padel, The Jetty Pavilion, Eric & Debs Homemade Ice-creamery, SLR Productions, Hello Coco Studio, North Beach General Store, Embark Renovations, NDA Media, Venus Tattoo Collective, Pretty Suite Coffs Harbour, and Coastal Commercial Bookkeeping.
If you’re interested in sponsoring in another way, or with a custom amount, please reach out to our Creative Director, Jena, here at Coast. We’ll chat about what works for your business and get you set up with everything you need to share your involvement with your community.
-
Make a Physical Donation (Drop-off)
Our tree is up! We are now accepting your new, unused art supply donations.
Drop-off Location & Details:
- We Are Coast Studio: 2/11 Murdock Street, Coffs Harbour
- When: Tuesday to Friday, 9am – 4pm weekly
- Deadline: December 12
Please bring your gift(s) unwrapped or in an open gift bag. We will wrap them for you and place them under our Christmas tree until mid-December, when we make our special deliveries to our three charity partners.
Can’t make it during business hours? Contact Jena directly to arrange an after-hours drop-off.
-
Make a Virtual Donation (Online)
Virtual donation more your thing? You can make a monetary contribution through our website by purchasing one of the available gift cards, and we’ll purchase supplies on your behalf to ensure we buy the creative supplies the local youth need most.
Make a virtual donation of $25 or $50.
Let Us Inspire You
Coast will be making an initial donation of 30 gifts to get the ball rolling! 🎁
What We’re Giving This Year
We’re seeking new, unused art supplies for three age groups:
Junior Creators (ages 5-10): Sketch pads, coloured pencil sets, markers, watercolour palettes, air-dry clay, chalk pastels, colouring books.
Young Artists (ages 11-17): Sketchbooks, journals, quality drawing pencil sets (graphite), fine-liner pens, Posca pens, acrylic paint sets, watercolour palettes, paintbrushes, oil pastels, mindful colouring books.
Emerging Creatives (ages 18-24): Canvases, easels, artist-grade paint sets (acrylic/oil), professional sketchbooks, specialist pens, technical pens, polymer clay, sculpting tools, mindful colouring books.
Why Art Supplies Still Matter – Now More Than Ever
In an increasingly digital world, there’s something profound about putting a paintbrush, a sketchbook, or a set of coloured pencils into a young person’s hands. These tangible tools are an invitation to unlock their creativity. They offer more than just entertainment. They provide therapeutic outlets for processing difficult emotions, building confidence, and discovering hidden talents they might not have had the opportunity to find.
For young people experiencing trauma, instability, or hardship, creative expression can be life-changing. Art becomes a safe space to work through complex feelings, a way to envision possibilities beyond current circumstances, and sometimes, the spark that ignites a lifelong passion or career path.
As the creative hub of Coffs Harbour, we’ve witnessed firsthand how lives can be transformed through creative resources. Our involvement in local school career days and work experience placements has enabled us to witness young people discovering their potential when given the right tools and encouragement. Coast’s Creative Christmas Drive extends that same philosophy, ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of a young person’s creative potential.
A Partnership That Changes Lives
This year we’ve partnered with three incredible local charities to ensure all donations are distributed to local children and teens, making their holiday season brighter and more colourful.
Groundworks Youth & Family Hub
Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre
headspace Coffs Harbour
We’ll be equally dividing all the gifts donated and dropping them to each organisation so they can distribute them directly.
Together, Let’s Spark Creativity This Christmas
Last year proved what our community is capable of when we come together in the spirit of giving back. This year, let’s show we’re capable of even more.
Whether you’re a local business ready to sponsor or an individual ready to donate art supplies, we need your help to reach our biggest goal yet.
Because every young creator deserves the tools to find their voice 🎄
Contact: studio@wearecoast.com.au
Drop-offs: 2/11 Murdock Street, Coffs Harbour (Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 4pm)
_____
