Habitat Cracker Hoedown

Indian River Habitat for Humanity held its annual Habitat Cracker Hoedown on Saturday night at Riverside Park. Supporters attending the event had fun dressing in their finest cowboy attire, playing carnival games, eating BBQ, and having an old-fashioned good time. For those brave enough, there was even a mechanical bull to ride! (No, Scott did not take a turn riding on the bull!)

Under the "BIG TOP"

Philip Homan and Kristin Lee
Kris Gault and Elizabeth Stegenga
Jennifer and Charles Croom
Vinnie & Diane Parentela with Lindsay Candler and Ray Comparetta
Jessica Schmitt (sitting next to T-Bird car before drawing)
Steve Thurlo (NOT!!....riding the bull)

We were honored to have photographed this fundraising event for such a worthwhile organization. Funds raised at the evening’s event go to support Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 300,000 houses in more than 3,000 communities and 90 countries. Since the construction of the first house in Gifford in 1992, the Indian River County affiliate has built more 225 homes throughout the county from Fellsmere to Oslo Park.

Check out the photos of the festivities and see if you can recognize anyone under those Stetsons!

TO SEE ALL OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING VISIT: www.islandimagesestore.com/events

Samaritan Center Soup Bowl Day

Months of preparation and planning all came together on Thursday, November 5th across Indian River County as the community gathered for a day of compassion, giving and simplicity all for one common goal, to benefit the homeless. This was the 17th year for the annual Samaritan Center Soup Bowl Day fundraising event, where people of all ages, backgrounds, and vocations gathered together in their homes, area businesses, as well as churches to share a simple meal of soup, bread and water. Each meal was provided with a minimum donation of $5.00 to the Samaritan Center, a local transitional shelter for homeless families with dependent children.

Just a few of the masterpieces created by the potters!!

Breaking Bread together

After being introduced to this unique fundraiser last year, we were excited to do what we could to help out this year. Beginning in September, Scott has been documenting every aspect of the preparation and execution of this event through photography. Starting with each stage in the process the 17 talented potters went through to make the over 800 handcrafted bowls especially for this event, the chefs making the soup, distribution of the soup, as well as the actual soup day activities.

Some tools of the trade

Chef Kevin Deaney from First United Methodist

Janice and Scott Reynolds enjoying soup at Christ by the Sea

Benjamin Poore at Community Church

Beautiful Dining area at Community Church

Donna Vernon at Tea and Chi

Rikki, Kim and Dale Klaus at First Methodist Church

Our goal for 2010 is to put this pictorial together in a book for the Samaritan Center to help raise awareness for their organization.