Tonight is the night to create something beautiful. Tuscaloosa’s One Place, a local non-profit family resource center, is hosting a benefit at Sips n Strokes and invites all who are interested to come and make their own art while benefiting a good cause.

“Students often come to the University with drive towards civic engagement, but do not know of Tuscaloosa-specific ways to get involved,” said Sassy Saint, a senior majoring in psychology and a member of the fundraising committee for Tuscaloosa’s One Place. “Hopefully, by providing a fun event, we can raise awareness for one of Tuscaloosa’s foremost non-profits that works to benefit all aspects of family life.”

The benefit starts at 6 p.m. and costs $40 to attend. This fee includes the cost of painting, dinner, eligibility for door prizes and a donation to Tuscaloosa’s One Place. Online registration to attend the fundraiser is available at sipsnstrokes.com. Registering beforehand is recommended to guarantee a spot, though it is not required, and walk-ins will be welcome if there is space available.

All proceeds from the night will directly benefit Tuscaloosa’s One Place, a family resource center dedicated to providing quality service and well-designed programs to the Tuscaloosa community. The organization offers a variety of programs that can benefit every member of the family, including ones in after-school tutoring, receiving food stamps, obtaining a GED, parenting, the importance of providing child support and marriage counseling.

“The TOP fundraiser at Sips n Strokes should attract a really diverse crowd of students, faculty members and community members from the Tuscaloosa area,” Saint said. “Though our main goal is to raise money for Tuscaloosa’s One Place, we also want to let more people know about what the organization does.”

This is the first fundraiser of its kind for Tuscaloosa’s One Place, and all of those involved hope to attract a diverse crowd. Students are especially encouraged to attend to help a cause without having to spend too much money.

“Sometimes it’s tough when you don’t have a lot of money to find ways to help out local organizations, no matter how much you like them and respect what they do,” said Tonya Adams Nelson, the communications director of the Honors College and a member of TOP’s fundraising committee. “This evening at Sips n Strokes is all about doing something that you would normally do and celebrating TOP in the process.”

Sips n Strokes is located downtown on 6th Street, off Greensboro and near The Shirt Shop. Those interested in other ways to help Tuscaloosa’s One Place can also visit its website, etfrc.org, for more information about the organization and its various resources.