Paint for Good Cheer!

Jul 212010
 
 July 21, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

Painting for the Good Cheer Food Bank was an idea that Tina Beard initiated. This is The Paint Escapes’s 4th Annual Good Cheer Fundraiser. The fundraiser will run through the summer until Memorial Day.

Paint an Animal Mug for $10 or a selected plain mug at full price and the Paint Express will donate $5 to the food bank. Since this is a fundraiser; coupons can’t be redeemed on coffee cups.

Tina Beard’s, The Paint Escape, has raised $1360 over the last three years.

Tina Beard purchased the store from Stephanie Zea who is the bookkeeper at the Good Cheer Food Bank. She purchased the store 4 years ago and moved into the current location in Freeland two and a half years ago.

Paint for Good Cheer began in 2007 with piggy banks, 2008 was soup bowls and last year night lights.

Tina’s goal has been 100 pieces each year and she has been very close to meeting that goal every year.

This is a great experience for all ages. You can enjoy a fun and relaxing pottery or glass fusing experience at The Paint Escape studio in Freeland on lovely Whidbey Island. A great bonding experience for you and your children; maybe there is an artist hidden within one of you?

You will find a large selection of unfinished bisque (unglazed porcelain white ceramic ware) and over 70 beautiful paint colors to choose from. You may choose from over 40 colors of glass and idea books are available.  Their friendly staff is always available to guide you through the process.

Tina tells me that she has had wedding parties where the couple picks out the dishes and the family members come in and paint them. That’s a personal touch that will create many memories.

There are a thousand ways to design a piece of pottery. They offer stamps, stencils, and examples for inspiration. A wonderful way to make hand made gifts and have a great time. No experience required. Everyone can do this!

Great fun for a birthday party!

Just an opportunity to explore your inner artist?

Tina was showing me how they do fused glass. The flower piece above; shows how you use a base glass and then stack glass pieces on top. The flower on the right has been fused in a kiln. The bowl at the top is an example of a fused glass piece. Slumping the glass allows the artist to change the shape of the piece.

Kiln used for fusing the glass.

The Paint Escape is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 pm.

Friday Family Night 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday Ladies Night 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Special Events By Appointment

1664 E. Main St

Freeland, Wa

360-331-3166

Good Cheer!

JaNoah Spratt / Mukilteo Fundraiser Good Cheer

Jul 122010
 
 July 12, 2010  Posted by Kathy McLaughlin No Responses »

JaNoah Spratt and The Good Cheer Food Bank; sound familiar? Wow, what an example for all of us to follow!

Here is the story of the fundraiser through the eyes of his father Todd Spratt:

“Good Cheer volunteer JaNoah Spratt  has coordinated  another Fundraiser with his fellow Black Belt Club students from Tiger Martial Arts. They just completed another very successful fundraiser to benefit Good Cheer Food Bank.

The fundraiser was held Saturday July 3rd from 9:00 am and 4:00 pm and was stationed in front of Ivar’s Restaurant. Ivar’s graciously agreed to let JaNoah  setup their table with brochures, Pamphlets and a collection box. The bulk of the collections where donated by the fine folks that were parked waiting for the ferry.

It was a long day and we were beat but we managed to bring in around $1000.00 for the Good Cheer Food Bank. Ivar’s staff was awesome. They said we were their guests and boy did they make us feel special. They treated us all to lunch, whatever we wanted and an ice cream of our choice. That was a life saver. Thanks so much for all you did Ivar’s.

The Washington State Mukilteo Ferry staff was wonderful too. They set us up with reflective vests, explained a few rules and let us do our thing. Our thanks goes out to the Mukilteo Ferry staff as well.

The kids hit the pavement asking for donations. Only two kids 10 years or older could be in the parking lot at one time and had to be accompanied by an adult at all times. We also had to leave the parking lot area when cars were being loaded, so you had about 10 minutes between rounds. The initial response was encouraging and we knew it would be a productive day.

Sensei Wendi Barker of Tiger Martial Arts took turns escorting kids through the parking lot and her son Good Cheer volunteer  R. J. helped man the table doing a fine job collecting donations. The next wave of helpers were not far behind Liz, Leah and Rebecca Merrow showed up and gave some much needed relief to Todd and JaNoah Spratt and Jesse Barker. It was a lot of walking and talking but we were all having fun and consistent success.

We had planned the event so that the volunteers would come at predetermined intervals during the day so that there would always be fresh help. Gabe Sherlock  and Jonathan Deritis had the 1:00 to 2:30 slot and did a great job. Paula and Dustin Scharwat were the last crew scheduled for the day. They both worked the parking lot with JaNoah and helped carry everything back when it was over.

JaNoah got his second wind sometime after lunch and started working the area in front of Ivar’s hard in between parking lot rounds. He’s really good face to face and it’s hard to turn him down when he’s standing in front of you.

JaNoah’s next project is to add the Mukilteo Fundraising chapter to his book ” How I Helped My Community and You Can Too” get it published and use part of the proceeds to generate more money for Good Cheer Food Bank. Leslie Kelly has offered her expertise and is assisting with the process.”

Quite a story; don’t you think:)

Are you looking for a back yard recycler?  You have to check out the BugaBay Worm Box by, you guessed it, JaNoah Spratt. There is a a video and other good information about composting that could be very useful to you.

JaNoah, his family and friends understand that volunteering is a form of giving. It is sharing what we value with others without counting on the reciprocal expectation of recognition or gratitude.

“The value of man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”

–Albert Einstein

Good Cheer!

 Newer Entries