Kristen Mabie’s sailing coach wisely told her that college is the time to take advantage of interesting opportunities. So when the Boston College freshman and Marion resident heard about an internship to help the homeless, she volunteered.

In November, Mabie began working with ArtLifting, a Boston-based startup that provides an online platform for homeless artists in art therapy programs.

Founded by siblings Liz and Spencer Powers, the company launched its website just after Mabie joined the team. Artists’ stories, original pieces, prints and even iPhone covers with their artwork are featured on the site.

With ArtLifting, Mabie said the company is giving integrity to homeless artists.

“We’re working to combat that stereotype of homeless people being the people you see sitting on the street that aren’t working for themselves,” she said. “These people are not just sitting around. They’re all around the city selling their work, standing outside with their art. They are really trying.”

As a social enterprise, the company gives the lion’s share of the online sales to the artist and also gives a portion to the art therapy program where the artist works. The remaining profits go to administrative costs and helping the company and its influence expand.

“Its been growing a ton,” said Mabie, who graduated from Tabor Academy in 2013. “Now almost every original art piece that we’ve posted is gone.”

Getting the word out to the public through social media and news outlets has been one of Mabie’s principal tasks.

“The story is a big part of the company,” Mabie said.

For Mabie, an artist herself with an interest in business, helping out with ArtLifting has been a rewarding experience so far.

“It’s definitely given me a bit of confidence in my belief that I want to do something involved with arts,” she said. “I want to be involved in social change in the city of Boston and anywhere else, and this is a great place for me to see that.”

Mabie said her internship is open ended at the moment, and as she designs the company’s first newsletter, she is looking forward to seeing ArtLifting’s social mission reach more homeless artists. The company recently signed two new artists whose work will soon be available for purchase on the website.

Mabie said seeing the artists’ work and hearing their stories is an encouragement.

“Looking at people who have such tough situations on their hands and are able to create such beautiful pieces, it’s those kinds of things I look at and I’m amazed.”

Check out the artists' work and their stories at artlifting.com.