Student art promotes "green" shopping

Christa Hamilton displays a "green" bag.

Shoppers in Sisters can cut down on waste while supporting Sisters Elementary School students.

Harvest Basket and Ray's Food Place in Sisters are carrying custom-crafted canvas shopping bags featuring silk-screened art from Sisters students. Shoppers can purchase the bags and eliminate the need for paper or plastic grocery bags.

"We wanted to do something people in the community could use," said parent volunteer Joyce Burk Brown.

Elementary school teacher Kelly Powell launched the project as part of the school's ecology program, which has won the school certification as a "green school."

Two students' art works were selected for silk screening -- Chrissy Pullig and Breezy Tewalt.

Funds raised through sales of the shopping bags will support SPTC projects. This year, the group funded a "wall ball" facility as well as sponsoring the annual Clean the Green project.