by Noella Noelophile®
Artists, laughter, love and ice cream. A Valentine’s Day celebration doesn’t get a lot better than that.
Unless, of course, it also involves giving back to the community.
And that’s exactly what’s happening, on Saturday afternoon, February 13th, as Seaside Studios San Pedro produces their second Empty Bowls San Pedro fundraiser! This is a “Valentine’s Ice Cream Social”, and proceeds go to Harbor Interfaith Services.
There’ll be an endless sundae bar, live entertainment and a guest speaker. A silent auction and raffles, where you can bid on, or possibly win, works by local artists, will also be part of the fun.
And, you get to keep the handpainted bowl you choose for your ice cream!
Artist/entrepreneurs Regina Fernandez and Gayle Fleury have been inviting volunteers to “paint a bowl for charity”, for free, since last November. Volunteers and youth groups, such as the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, joined them and used their creative talents, both at San Pedro’s “HeART in the Park” event and at their art studio (which, by the way, celebrates its second anniversary in April!).
The results have been beautiful.
When we visited in mid-January, Regina and Gayle had at least a hundred bowls painted, fired and ready. They still had one more Saturday painting session coming up, and a youth group was scheduled to come in that afternoon, as well.
Now, you’re invited to share in the benefits of everyone’s creative work. You can probably expect to have at least a hundred fifty to two hundred of these from which to choose! And while you’re enjoying ice cream and a great afternoon, you’ll also be helping the homeless and working poor.
Tempted? I’ll add: you don’t even have to deal with Saturday-night traffic, to be a part of this. The “Empty Bowls Valentine’s Ice Cream Social” starts at 2:00, that Saturday afternoon.
Empty Bowls’ “Valentine’s Ice Cream Social” fundraiser happens Saturday, February 13th, from 2 to 4 pm at Anderson Senior Center, 828 South Mesa Street, between West 8th and West 9th Streets, in San Pedro. Tickets are $25 each and are available through Seaside Studios’ website, or by calling Regina at (562) 673-7660, or Gayle at (310) 221-2914.