The Dawson County Arts Council has taken another step in the community toward promoting the arts.

Riverview and Black's Mill Elementary School art teacher Tracey Burnette was the recipient of much-needed art supplies from the council recently.

"Once we use our supplies, they're gone," Burnette said. "The arts council mentioned doing a tree and I said that would be a grand idea. Right now it's any consumables - glue sticks, markers, crayons."

Burnette, a former arts council board member, said that she was in need of supplies for her students when she was speaking with Arts Council Vice President Pat Cavanaugh, who decided that the council could help her out.

A Christmas "Wish Tree" with tags listing needed school art supplies was placed at the Bowen Center for the Arts, with members and visitors bringing in enough supplies to last Burnette until the end of the school year.

"We've gotten a great response with the donations," Burnette said. "People from within the community and those that just come in from out of state to visit the Bowen Center have donated."

Bowen Center Executive Director Ginny Greenwood said that the center was proud of its members and visitors.

"The spirit of giving never dies throughout the ages. The art supply program will become a year-round project for DCAC," she said. "The Dawson County Arts Council prides itself on the art of giving back to the community."

Burnette said that she was just glad that the supplies would keep her students occupied for the remaining school year.

"We order one time a year through the schools and if it gets used, it's gone, so I welcome all of this," she said.