Penn State grad, artist teams up with State College restaurant to help families in need

When you buy a Nittany Lion Shrine print from Alyssa Wheeler, you’re not just supporting an artist and Penn State alumna — you’re helping The Corner Room provide meals and groceries to families in need.

In early April, Wheeler, who studied business administration at University Park, partnered with The Corner Room to donate a portion of her profits to buy McLanahan’s Downtown Market gift cards and give them out, along with other grocery items, to community members once a week. As of last week, she had sold 354 prints of iconic Penn State landmarks and donated 50 gift cards.

Due to the success of the project, which was originally slated to end in mid-May, customers can now buy prints through the end of June. Wheeler said her business model as an artist is to benefit fundraisers and help communities, so the campaign was right up her alley.

“About 90 percent of the prints ordered have been given as graduation gifts, which is really cool because I know a lot of students are missing out on a physical graduation ceremony,” Wheeler said. “It’s been really rewarding to see how the prints are benefiting people who are missing out on (graduation) but at the same time, when they purchase those prints, it’s going to help people who need groceries.”

Curtis Shulman, director of operations for Hotel State College & Company, which operates The Corner Room, said the idea arose when Wheeler wanted to sell her art on consignment. In return for helping promote her art, the restaurant would use the money earned to support fellow local business owners.

“We wanted to find some way to give back, and this is kind of our solution,” Shulman said. “Local businesses don’t have the depth that some really large corporations and franchises have, so in order for us to survive and continue to offer unique dining and art experiences, we need the support of the local community.”

Shulman said people often think “supporting” businesses means giving them thousands of dollars, but that support can extend beyond financial commitments or large sums of money, like through engagement or word of mouth. He hopes the restaurant will continue offering meals as long as possible.

Amy Johnson — a worker in the State College hospitality industry and one of the recipients of the grocery bags and gift cards — said the inclusion of the card was a pleasant surprise, and reached out to thank Wheeler through Facebook.

“I don’t have any kids or anything, so there’s people like me who can kind of slip through the cracks,” Johnson said. “Things are tight right now, so (the gift card) made my day. I think what they’re doing is admirable.”

Every gift card also comes with a small note about the campaign, something Wheeler said would help community members feel supported despite the isolation of social distancing.

“I know this is just a lonely, challenging time for a lot of people,” Wheeler said. “The goal is just to help as many families as possible and to provide meals but also encouragement at the same time.”

Wheeler’s prints can be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/shop/respirareartem/. For information on upcoming free meals at The Corner Room, visit https://www.facebook.com/MeetMeAtTheCornerRoom/.