When you think about the needs of kids in shelters, you might think shoes, clothing, food, a safe place. But there's something else that's important to recovery, says Deandra Bieneman: the opportunity to be creative. She brings art to kids in difficult situations — and she's also one of the most impossibly cheerful people you'll ever meet.

First things first: native, or someone who wisely chose Minnesota over some rival, cheese-based state? "I was born and raised in Madison, where I went to school and got a degree in international policy." So … shouldn't you be in Washington? "I didn't want to work for government. Tried it on for size and it wasn't my thing. I love the arts, and Minneapolis is really where it's at. So I moved!"

And dived right in. "I created an arts and craft community called 'Crafternoon Delight.' " Hmm. That's a song with a mildly naughty subtext, isn't it. She laughs. "Someone created a version with NO innuendo. 'Knitting needles in flight, Crafternoon delight.' I connected with some fabulous women in the community, and we taught people how to do art projects. We'd have Bloody Marys and make terrariums."

OK, Dad Mode Engaged: That's no way to make the rent. "I was working in a financial institution by day, and having fun creating and inspiring in my weekends." But there came a time when the office suit felt like a straitjacket. Eventually she found her way to — well, let her describe it.

"Free Arts Minnesota! It's an art mentoring nonprofit, dedicated to bringing the healing power of arts to children in the Twin Cities community who have issues with poverty, abuse, and mental illness. Kids who probably don't have any other access to arts."

There's no typical class. "Bookmaking. Community photography. Improvisation. Poetry. We made the books for our poetry, and the girls loved it. The week I came back they had filled their poetry books with the most moving, deep, intense poems I had heard. Hearing 16-year-old girls talk about their meth addiction, it just moved me to tears."

She's a volunteer and a volunteer coordinator. She has to find about 400 people a year to volunteer and design their own curriculum. That's more than one a day, but she's the most ebullient ambassador a program could want.

"Many of us who weren't drawn to sports or science needed art to learn about ourselves, and in the Twin Cities there are so many people with the creative mind-set. When I explain what we do for the kids, the experience speaks for itself. Light bulbs go off.

"People say: 'That's what I want to do.' "

James Lileks