From Grit to Pearl: 10 Reasons to Smile Around the Lowcountry Today
If there’s one thing to be learned from an oyster, it’s that beauty can be born of even the most challenging and trying of circumstances.
And y’all, these are absolutely trying times for our global community but also our local community here in the Holy City. Amidst all the upheaval and darkness, however, the people of the Lowcountry are still coming together in beautiful ways to lift each other up and celebrate that life is beautiful and community is some ways more precious than ever.
Grit & Grace Studio wants you to kick your weekend off on a cheerful note, Charleston! Scroll on down for some of our favorite happy moments around our sweet city this week. Happy FriYAY!
Good News From Charleston
Robert Lange Studios Brings the Art to You
I think we would all give anything to stroll through Charleston’s art galleries with a glass of wine in hand and our friends at our side this evening. Well, Robert Lange Studios has got you, and they’re bringing their beloved Art Walk to you tonight digitally as their inaugural “Art Watch”! Pour yourself a glass of wine and tune in via Instagram at 7:00 PM to get your fix and support local artists!
Front steps project with Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Photography studio King and Fields joined the #frontporchproject sweeping the nation by teaming up with the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, which is currently closed to visitors. Charleston families celebrated this time of togetherness with a safe social distance, making happy memories during this crazy time!
Katie’s Krops is providing free meals to those in need at the Summerville YMCA
Katie Stagliano has been Summerville’s sustainability superhero since she was 9 years old. As a child, she grew a 40-pound-cabbage and donated it to a soup kitchen, planting the seed for a non-profit that has started gardens around the country and donated over 38,000 pounds of fresh produce to hunger relief programs, cancer centers and directly to families in need in the year 2018 alone. And now, Katie’s Krops has taken the fight against hunger to the COVID battleground, distributing a whopping 250+ meals at the Summerville YMCA in a drive-through format.
Lowcountry Couple Celebrates Anniversary in Empty City Market
You can’t stop love! Though their 13th-anniversary plans of a babysitter and romantic night out at Edmund’s Oast turned out to be takeout from SNOB and an impromptu dance to their wedding song in the abandoned Charleston City Market, local couple Jessica and Joshua Aydlette are still finding love and joy in the little things. Check out the full story here!
Cane Bay Honors First Responders with Luminarias
Local residents in Berkley County’s Cane Bay brought some light and hope to these dark times by lining their yards and sidewalks with candles and luminaries to express support and gratitude for the Lowcountry’s first responders, health care workers, law enforcement, and grocery store workers. Read more about this inspiring community here.
ECCO Distributing Food to Families in Need
East Cooper Community Outreach was started in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo to serve the people of the Lowcountry, and they’re proud to adapt to this unprecedented national crisis to meet the needs of Charlestonians struggling with the pandemic. “We will continue to serve the community in good times and bad times,” Kelley said. In the last week, ECCO served about 300 families, nearly half of which were new to the organization. For more information on this powerhouse group, click here.
Columbia Teachers Drive Through Students’ Neighborhoods to Spread Cheer
Now, more than ever, Americans are rejoicing at the sight of familiar, beloved faces… even if it’s via Facetime or a safe social distance, and the pandemic can be particularly hard on children, who may not have an in-depth grasp of the situation. Teachers at Saluda River Academy for the Arts drove through their students' neighborhoods in a four-wheeled parade this week, honking and waving and yelling to their students that they loved them to spread cheer while schools are closed.
Dunes West Scavenger Hunt
Mount Pleasant community Dunes West rose to the challenges of social distancing with children by creating a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt! Residents are displaying stuffed animals or toys in windows and yards, boasting a shamrock hunt, heart hunt, bear hunt already.
Staff at The Village at Summerville Help Seniors Connect with Loved Ones via Video Chat
Who isn’t feeling the physical distance from their loved ones these days? The staff at The Village, a Summerville senior living facility, are helping their residents navigate the complicated waters of modern technology to FaceTime and video chat with their loved ones since visitors are no longer permitted. Click through to read the story of Emily Wood’s adorable 100th birthday party celebration via Zoom!
Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach Offering Penguin Cam
If you’ve finished watching “Tiger King” and are passing the time until your next Netflix binge (or Zoom meeting!), Myrtle Beach’s Ripley’s Aquarium has your daily dose of cuteness via their Penguin Cam. The aquarium is currently closed to the public, but they couldn’t wait to share their newly opened “Penguin Playhouse” by webcam until you can make the trek in person.
We look forward to bringing you more good news as our community pulls together to weather out this unprecedented crisis. Please remember to shop local, support small businesses, and stay safe, Charleston!
One Love & Blessings,