Lovin’ Lunch

Storyteller Children’s Center, founded 36 years ago, hosted its 10th annual Lunch with Love at the Rockwood Woman’s Club with 177 guests raising around $100,00 for the organization – a therapeutic preschool providing tuition-free early childhood education for youngsters with adverse challenges.

The boffo bash, co-chaired by Erinn Lynch and Dr. Peggy Dodds, featured Ashleigh Erving, director of clinical operations at CALM, and Dr. Gabriella Garcia, executive director, who recounted the charity’s early years in a parking lot at Transition House.

It now has three locations in our Eden by the Beach, offering “a safe and nurturing environment” for children whose loving families fall under the poverty level, of which 82% are single-parent families and 13% are experiencing homelessness.

Among the supporters turning out were Mayor Randy Rowse, Brenda Blalock, Dana Hansen, Janet Garufis, Maria Long, Anna Kokotovic, Nancy Sheldon, Courtney Bianchi, Avery Firestone, and Danna McGrew.