CHELSEA, Ala. (WIAT) — Coming on the heels of Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, Prodigal Pottery is a ministry that started in Chelsea as an art therapy program.
The purpose it serves is to employ women at King’s Home, WellHouse and the Lovelady Center, who are escaping the effects of abuse and homelessness.
The ministry is multifaceted as women who may not have a clean record can get a job and learn to take hold of their lives toward a more positive future.
Jenna Collins and Amanda Claridy joined CBS 42 Weekend Morning News Anchor Jen Cardone Saturday morning. Both women are co-directors of the nonprofit.
Claridy said some of the women may have never been taught the skills they need to be productive members of society, and that’s something they strive to provide.
“At Prodigal Pottery, more importantly, we provide a place of healing for them while teach them those tools,” Claridy said.
One of those ways of healing is through art therapy.
“We don’t do any hand throwing on a wheel,” Collins said. “We do all hand building and slab
rolling. And so a lot of what you see is in our pattern is the doilies. We use doilies for all of our patterns in there. It can look like rolling it out, and cutting it out, and putting it in the mold and shaping it.”
They both use their personal experience having gone through similar situations to help others.
“Being able to walk alongside these women in journeys that we’ve already walked through and guide them to where they need to get to, so they can be productive members and be strong women when they leave,” Collins said.
Claridy said it’s important to offer this opportunity for these women because they know what they’re going through.
“For me, it’s really important that the women see people who have gone through the same situations as they have be in the kind of leadership roles that Jenna and I are in,” Claridy said. “It gives them hope, so that they know that it’s possible for them, too.”
You can learn more about Prodigal Pottery here and opportunities to donate or volunteer on its website.
