Raven wing photos to raise money for relief trip
Enchanting black wings have taken shape behind the Raven Café in Port Huron.
The 30-foot wings have been drawn there, to stay until the next rain storm, for visitors and residents to lay down amongst them.
All that's asked in return is a donation to help get a Port Huron woman to Nicaragua, where she wants to build a free school for adults.
Anyone can come to the Raven Café, 932 Military St., Port Huron, with a camera to get their photo taken. There is no set donation amount.
The photo subject will lie down on the ground with the wings behind them and someone from the Raven will take the photo from above on the building's balcony.
The volunteer trip Deidre Murch is pursuing is sponsored by Random Acts, a non-profit United States-based organization that has hosted relief trips to Haiti and Nicaragua.
"Originally I got the idea to draw the wings because I am a big fan of the show 'Supernatural'," said Jody Parmann, Raven Café co-owner and artist. "On the show when an angel dies black wings are burned into the ground behind them and they are huge and beautiful."
Parmann said the perfect opportunity to draw the wings presented itself when Murch approached her about raising money for the Nicaragua trip.
In 2013, Murch traveled to Haiti with the same organization to build an orphanage and youth center.
Random Acts was coincidentally founded by "Supernatural" actor Misha Collins, who played an angel in the show.
"(Misha Collins) does a lot of really cool stuff about connecting your community with the world," Parmann said. "The first 25 people to raise $5,000 get to go on the Nicaragua trip, which is what Deidre is working towards."
Murch has raised about $3,200 of the needed $5,000.
"What people don't realize is that education is not free in Nicaragua like it is here," Parmann said. "Deidre also is planning on sharing her experience with local middle and high school students here to show them just how important our free education is."
Murch said her trip to Haiti inspired her to invest in a second volunteer trip.
"(Haiti) made me re-examine my life," she said. "Everyone was happy despite the earthquake and everything they had gone through. We got the kids cake one night and they were trying to hand their pieces to us instead of taking it for themselves. Their love for other people was outstanding."
As for Nicaragua, Murch said the November trip will focus on building a free school for adults who never received a high school education.
"We will be constructing a new campus called the Center for Human Development with a full computer lab and updated learning materials," she said.
Even if Murch is not one of the first 25 people to raise the needed $5,000, all money raised will still be donated to the construction fund for the school. Murch said if she is one of the 25 people honored to go on the trip she will be paying for her own travel expenses.
The wings were drawn out of black chalk and charcoal Wednesday morning.
"There is a certain beauty when things are dark and a little bit sad," Parmann said. "On the show (Supernatural) the angels are like the average person and it's like a big reveal when they dies and the black wings burn into the concrete and it's very profound."
To donate to Murch's fundraiser go to https://www.crowdrise.com/D2A-Nicaragua2015/fundraiser/deidremurch.
Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHayden_TH.
How to donate
• Bring a camera and a friend to get your photo taken at the Raven Café, 932 Military St., Port Huron. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
• Or donate online by going to https://www.crowdrise.com/D2A-Nicaragua2015/fundraiser/deidremurch