When COVID-19 first reared its ugly head, Jess Rudegeair was feeling hopeless in quarantine and she was worried for everybody. She saw local businesses really taking it on the chin during the governor's mandated shutdown.
The co-owner of Buffalo Street Lanes, Franklin's local bowling alley, had been kicking around the idea of painting a mural on 13th Street the side of their building. So she devised a plan to kill two birds with one stone. With the help of the Franklin Rotary Club, she began selling space on the wall for donor signatures in a Heart of Franklin mural.
An online fundraising campaign was started to spread the word about the effort. To encourage giving, Rudegeair promised all those who donated at least $25 would have the opportunity to sign one of the bricks within the mural.
The co-owner of Buffalo Street Lanes, Franklin's local bowling alley, had been kicking around the idea of painting a mural on 13th Street the side of their building. So she devised a plan to kill two birds with one stone. With the help of the Franklin Rotary Club, she began selling space on the wall for donor signatures in a Heart of Franklin mural.
An online fundraising campaign was started to spread the word about the effort. To encourage giving, Rudegeair promised all those who donated at least $25 would have the opportunity to sign one of the bricks within the mural.
Her plan worked. People were generous. Over 250 donors gave around $9,000 that was handed out to 111 area businesses to help pay the bills.
"I just wanted to do something," Rudegeair said. With the money raised she then had to get the mural started so she began mapping it out and got to work. First she painted the large red heart, then the Rotary key, then hundreds of colorful bricks.
On Friday afternoon, she was putting the words Franklin, PA on the wall and just has some touch ups to do before having the donors come by to sign their bricks.
"I just wanted to do something," Rudegeair said. With the money raised she then had to get the mural started so she began mapping it out and got to work. First she painted the large red heart, then the Rotary key, then hundreds of colorful bricks.
On Friday afternoon, she was putting the words Franklin, PA on the wall and just has some touch ups to do before having the donors come by to sign their bricks.
She is planning a second fundraiser in November, hoping people might get some Christmas gifts out of the way while helping support a local business - the Barrow-Civic Theater. She is working out the final details of the online costume jewelry auction, but expects to make an announcement about the event soon.
Rudegeair is still looking for ideas to paint the rest of the long building to further beautify the bowling alley's part of the downtown. The opposite inside of building is already home to two large butterflies. "I'd like to challenge other building owners to find ways to brighten up their buildings too," she said.
To see some photos of the mural in progress, check on the fundraiser Facebook page here.
Rudegeair is still looking for ideas to paint the rest of the long building to further beautify the bowling alley's part of the downtown. The opposite inside of building is already home to two large butterflies. "I'd like to challenge other building owners to find ways to brighten up their buildings too," she said.
To see some photos of the mural in progress, check on the fundraiser Facebook page here.
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