A Winnipeg artist is continuing her efforts to beautify Elmwood with the help of some local high school students.

Artist Annie Bergen is currently working on her second mural on the side of the Kildonan Mennonite Central Committee Thrift Store, located near the corner of Chalmers Avenue and Watt Street. The project received funding from the Neighbourhoods Alive! program.

Her first mural was completed last year and depicts the relief work of Mennonites around the world, including a lady making a quilt, a school, water pumps, and food being handed out.

A number of students from the school also participated in that project.

With the help of 30 students, this year’s mural will focus more on the local efforts of Kildonan MCC, its progression in the community, and how it operates inside. It will feature window scenes that show the process of donations being dropped off to when they arrive on the shelves.

Bergen and the students started working on the latest mural in May, and she hopes it will be completed by the end of the school year.

Bergen said she enjoys getting to work with the students on the project.

"I really love it. It’s really fun because they take ownership and are engaged," said the artist, who lives in South Point Douglas.

"They like to show their family and friends that they contributed."

Grade 8 student T.J. Klassen said it’s been a lot of fun for him to contribute to the project.

"It’s going to be really special, especially since a lot of people from the school helped," he said.

"For me, it’s good for me to learn. It’s going to look really good after."

Bergen, who has worked on a number of projects throughout the city with students, said working on a mural at MCC is especially meaningful because of her own background.

"For me it’s especially meaningful because I’m Mennonite," she said. "So it’s fun to also connect with the volunteers here."

Briony Haig, an art teacher at Elmwood High, said working on the mural will be a positive experience for the students.

"We have kids who are thrilled to be working on this mural," Haig said.

"It’s important for them to be part of things like this. It’s beautifying the neighbourhood."

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com