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“It started out with me just wanting to play Santa Claus.”
On paper, Katie Schindler is a full-time waitress/
bartender at Black Pelican and Sea Scape Golf Bar & Grill. But the whim
above soon morphed into a plan that blossomed into a hugely successful benefit
to assist Outer Banks families, hinting that Schindler’s true calling lies in
event planning.
“I’ve always loved throwing parties, but this was the
first fundraiser I’ve taken a stab at,” says the 26-year-old. “I knew there
were a lot of families on the Outer Banks who needed money for food, power
bills, diapers, and things. The recession’s hit this place hard, there being so
many laborers here. So about two months ago I started looking for a nonprofit
to buddy up with. Otherwise we would’ve had to pay taxes on whatever money was
raised.”
So Schindler started making lists. Lists of venues to
host the inaugural “OBXmas Benefit.” Lists of local businesses to hit up to
donate goods and services for raffle prizes. Lists of artists to showcase and
sell their works. Lists of families in crisis and lists of what they needed.
“After getting turned down by four nonprofits, I found out Interfaith Community
Outreach already had a list going of who was most in need of support,”
Schindler adds. “Interfaith is supported by 50 churches around here, too, so
they had the street cred. Children At Play needed money for building a future
children’s museum, so we got involved with them, as well. Tina MacKenzie from
the Outer Banks Brewing Station was into it from the start, so we picked a
date, lined up the artists and DJ Bruce [Ability Boardriding Systems owner
Bruce Jones], and got the Jesse Chong Band from Virginia Beach to come down and
play.”
On the night of Tuesday, December 8th, 300 people
flocked to the “Beer Church” to delight in an eclectic smorgasbord of creations
from 19 local artists — Aaron Wooten, Chris Kemp, Elizabeth Zongolowicz,
Jennifer Harmon, Jessica and Derik Wineland, Kelly Merrell, Marcia Cline, Meg
Rubino, Rob Snyder, Rhabia Hodges, Angie Clarke, Fran Peele, Genna Miles, Katy
Caroline, Kent Olson, Mari Toka, Michelle Conner, and Ryan Wirth — exhibiting
everything from photography and exotic jewelry to clothing and bags to gypsy headdresses,
acrylic and watercolor paintings, ceramic stocking stuffers, and other fine
arts.
Naturally, the Dare County surf community was there
in full force. Kill Devil Hills-based lensman Matt Lusk made an appearance
along with esteemed local rippers Christian Kane and Jeff Sykes — if for
nothing else than to fall under the nitrous-like spells of the delectable
fashion models who worked the aisles pushing raffle tickets. The top prizes
— a John Deere tractor, a six-person offshore fishing trip, and a booze
cruise — ultimately went to Michelle Conner, Katie Wirth, and Jimmy
Poulos, respectively. Local ripper Ryan “Roach” Wirth’s industriolyptic custom
prints, Aaron Wooten’s beer bottle cap art, and Derik and Jessica Wineland’s
handcrafted skateboard decks were some notable surfers’ favorites, along with budding
photographer Michelle Conner’s nostalgic surf imagery and Rob Snyder’s (father
to local pro Noah Snyder) timeless seascape paintings. And Hooked Surfboards
shaper/ 158 Surf & Skate co-owner Mike Rowe donated a sleek blade on which to
showcase Chris Kemp’s board art.
When all was said and done, with a $5 minimum
donation required at the door, OBXmas raised $4000, with all proceeds going to
Interfaith and Children At Play. “I was overwhelmed by the turnout and the
response,” Schindler beams. “Some of the artists sold more pieces than at any show
they’ve ever done, while others said it was the best party they’ve ever been to
on the Outer Banks. I wrote a check from the business account I created and Interfaith
will disperse the funds among their list of local families in need. That’s the
best part about OBXmas. It stays local, and four grand can go a long way when
it’s tax-free.”
As for Katie Schindler, with the mercury dropping by
the day and the HWY 158 bypass shifting into slow-mo, long shifts behind the
bar and between the tables just aren’t keeping her mind busy enough.
“I don’t know,” she ponders. “What’s everyone doing
for New Year’s?”
A
sleigh-full of thanks goes out to the following sponsors who helped make the
OBXmas Benefit such a grand success: Outer Banks Brewing Station, East Carolina
Radio, Lucky 12 Tavern, John Deere-Bill Lane, Bells And Whistles, Something Old
Something New, Bear Drugs, Mac’s Plumbing, Joe Lamb Realty, Captain Harold
Smith of “Spray”, Black Pelican, Sea Scape Golf, Amity, Outer Banks Massage-Liza
Yowell, OBX Limousine-Robert Via, Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant & Tavern,
Coastal Impressions Printing And Design, Spa Vogue, An Endless Summer Tanning,
Glenn Eure, Whalebone Surf Shop, JK’s Restaurant, Outer Banks Sports Club,
Morning View Coffee House and Roastery, Saltwaters Grill, Beach Road Grill,
Electric Beach Tanning, Mama Kwan’s Grill and Tiki Bar, Chilli Peppers
Restaurant & Bar, and Southern Bea Coffee House.
For more
information and/ or to make donations to Interfaith Community Outreach, visit www.interfaithoutreach.com.
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