Sharon Hann was in her last year at Toronto's York University, majoring in theatre with a focus on production and design. At the same time, she was taking electives dealing with the Third World. One day, she was studying some beautiful examples of baroque art while preparing an essay on child-sex slavery.

“All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed,” she recalls. “I couldn't make sense of how such beauty and ugliness could co-exist.”

At that moment, she resolved to do something with her art that would help change the world—and Copper Coin Arts was born.

Keeping in Touch
Sharon inherited her Christian commitment from her Salvationist parents, who brought young Sharon along with them on overseas mission trips. “There are three passions in my life,” she admits. “I have a passion for creating art, for people who are in need and for the youth of the world.”

These passions led Sharon to design T-shirts and other pieces of clothing that highlight global concerns, such as world hunger and peace. “My clothes would start conversations all the time with kids my age,” she says. Sharon used these opportunities to share her faith and commitment.

As a counsellor at The Salvation Army's Camp Rainbow, north of Toronto, she'd talk to her cabin mates about movements that were helping people around the world, such as War Child and Fair Trade. Out of these conversations came the idea of using art to raise funds for these causes.

Enthusiasm and Effort
Following graduation, Sharon juggled multiple jobs as a wardrobe and design manager and seamstress while conducting weekly meetings of Copper Coin Arts (from the Bible story of the widow who gave all she had, two copper coins—see Luke 21:1-3). Her aim was to mount a fashion show in December 2006, less than half a year away.

She drummed up support by giving presentations to local schools. Friends and former campers joined with volunteers from surrounding Salvation Army corps and community volunteer co-ordinators.

Copper Coin Arts' first show, Golden Gift, was a success, with proceeds going to charities chosen by the participants. The second show was held the following May, while 2008's show was dedicated to The Salvation Army's Gifts of Hope program. To date, Copper Coin Arts has raised more than $2,000 for charities such as Africycle and Gifts of Hope.

“What we really liked about Gifts of Hope,” observes Sharon, “was that while there was only one charity, the kids could still choose where they wanted their money to go—for instance, clean water or education.”

Copper Coin Arts' next show will be in late April or early May, with the proceeds going to anti-human trafficking activities. Ultimately, Sharon aims to have at least two shows a year—an art show around Christmas and a fashion show in May.

Their Church
Copper Coin Arts is headquartered at North York Temple in Toronto. Workshops transform items, such as old pairs of jeans, into handbags. In the screenprinting classes, old scraps of fabric are made into quilts. Collage material, such as chocolate-bar wrappings or magazine covers, are converted to wallets. “These studio nights are wonderful,” says Sharon.

On one occasion, a volunteer leader was assisting with some screenprinting when she asked one of the participants, “What church do you go to?”

The girl, who is not a Christian, replied, “I come here on Friday nights with Sharon.”

“A lot of these kids haven't grown up in a church atmosphere,” Sharon acknowledges, “so we get an opportunity to answer any questions they may have. They may not realize it, but this is their church.”

Strengthening Faith
Though Sharon is now an experienced costume designer who has worked on professional theatre productions such as The Sound of Music, she continues to be passionate about Copper Coin Arts.

“Copper Coin Arts has strengthened my faith,” Sharon says. “I'm not a born organizer so I've had to rely on God a lot, and he's always been there when I needed him. But it's also been encouraging to see how much is going on for good in the world. Like the woman with the two copper coins, I want to give all that I can to work for the Kingdom of God. Even a tiny bit can make a difference.”