The end of the year is upon us, which is a perfect time to clean out our drawers and closets, and de-clutter homes and garages. Not sure what to do with discarded items? Consider giving them to The Community Arts Project. No item small or large should be tossed without thinking of its potential use in art.

Drawing a blank? No problem. Skilled at recycling and repurposing common household items into materials for classes and workshops, The Community Arts Project will gladly accept those items and brainstorm ways to incorporate them into the Winter Session beginning January 3rd, 2013. For a complete list of schedules and offerings, visit the website at www.thecommunityartsproject.org.

As a nonprofit, CAP relies heavily on donations of not just money but also supplies to help it succeed. Based in Cornelius, it is a full service visual arts center using art education as a means of outreach to serve the entire Lake Norman area, including but not limited to Davidson, Huntersville, northern Charlotte, Concord, Mooresville, Lincolnton and beyond.

The following is a sample from its Wish List of items it what would like to receive: old clothes to be made into art smocks and doll clothes, leftover house paint or spray paint, socks, belts, old keys and other miscellaneous trinkets from junk drawers, bottle caps, paper of any kind, scrap wood, baby food containers, duct tape, the list goes on and on …

Full disclosure, I serve on the board of this wonderful nonprofit and can vouch for its creativity and resourcefulness at putting any and all donations to good use. Feel free to reach out to me should you have any questions about the organization and/or its needs. I’ll be happy to organize and facilitate a contribution of items on its behalf: http://www.robingibsonart.com/contact.html

Housed in the Cornelius Art Center inside the historic Oak Street Mill building behind the Cornelius Police Department, CAP’s address is 19725 Oak Street, Unit 1 Cornelius NC 28031. Donations may be tax deductible. Receipts are gladly given.

Here’s to another year ending and a new one starting with less junk. Happy New Year, everyone! And, remember, The Community Arts Project wants it.

Robin Gibson is a writer living in Cornelius. You can find her blog at http://www.robingibsonart.com/blog.html. In this new column, she’ll be offering weekend picks around the Lake Norman area.   (Note: Robin also is a board member of the Community Arts Project.)