TERRE HAUTE —
A local not-for-profit organization would like to see a lot less “Moe.”
SPPRAK — an acronum for “Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness” — is going after graffiti in Terre Haute, including the graffiti painted by “Moe,” one of the city’s more active “taggers.”
“Moe” recently “tagged” Illiana Truck Parts on North 25th Street and members of SPPRAK worked Monday evening to try to remove the vandal’s handiwork.
“We’ve painted over it and painted again,” said Andy Nickel, owner of Illiana Truck Parts, whose business has been “tagged” repeatedly in recent years. “I mean, you just get tired of it.”
SPPRAK, which has raised money for the Terre Haute Humane Society and for storm and tornado victims in southern Indiana and Harrisburg, Ill., is now launching an effort to combat the city’s graffiti, beginning with 13th and 25th streets.
Kim Grubb, Robin Heng and Susan Short, SPPRAK’s founding members, met with members of The Bridge Church of Terre Haute at Illiana Truck Parts Monday evening to discuss the latest project. Members of the church are some of the first volunteers agreeing to help reduce graffiti in the city.
“We’re trying to enlist volunteers to remove graffiti on a regular basis,” Heng said. “We’re looking to build teams that will commit to two days a month” one hour at a time, she said.
SPPRAK is looking for individuals to lead small teams of anti-graffiti volunteers. The hope is that whole neighborhoods will become involved in the effort, Heng said.
Graffiti, although viewed as art by taggers, generates the perception of blight and gang activity, Heng said Monday. Graffiti is also perceived by residents and others that a “downward spiral has begun” in a neighborhood, she said.
Around Terre Haute, taggers are starting to paint graffiti on the roofs of area buildings, Heng said.
The goal this summer is to clean up graffiti on 13th and 25th streets. SPPRAK plans to send letters to business owners on those streets asking permission to paint over the graffiti on their property. Sherwin-Williams of Terre Haute is donating paint for the effort, SPPRAK volunteers said.
“We’re hoping, block-by-block, we’re going to make a difference,” Heng said.
SPPRAK recently became a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Donations to help SPPRAK can be made at Riddell National Bank on Indiana 46 near the east-side Walmart.
SPPRAK, whose founding mission is to help local small businesses, has been working with Mayor Duke Bennett and Terry Modesitt, the Vigo County prosecutor, on its latest effort, Heng said. Graffiti should be reported to authorities by calling 311, she said.
In a related project, SPPRAK is also seeking volunteers and artists interested in painting murals in different parts of the city.
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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