Palm Coast Decorative Painters club: ‘Kids come first’

The Palm Coast Decorative Painters held a luncheon to raise funds for the GAL7 Foundation, which provides support and opportunities for local, neglected children.

By Anastasia Pagello
| 1:30 p.m. March 12, 2016

Mary-Lou Persutti with her hat made of 'a deck of cards, garbage bags and lots of glue' with Lee Fasnacht and her birds nest hat.

Carlene Weissinger made her hat out of Russian Fairy-tale shrink wraps on duck eggs and foil on fabric art designs, with Lana Raymond, with a hat that represent the Dallas Cowboys, and Roseann Magone with a hat she made to signify the coming of spring.

Palm Coast Decorative Painters Treasurer Ruth McDonald, Publicity Specialist Anita Peale, President Judy Beuchert, Nancy Walsh and Secretary Georgia Strein.

Linda Buckles and Heather Johnson

Edith Bone and Jorjann Kuypers show off their hand-made "Mad Hatter" themed hats at the Palm Coast Decorative Painters fundraising event on Saturday, March 12. Photos by Anastasia Pagello

Palm Coast Decorative Painters member Barbara Jacobs and Treasurer Ruth McDonald.

Jane Vanburen and Mary Chemley

Palm Coast Observer
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The Palm Coast Decorative Painters club was established in February 2003 and has helped to support the GAL7 Foundation since the start. Over the past 13 years over 1,300 shoeboxes have been hand-painted by members of the PCDP, filled with goodies such as toys, clothes and books, and donated to children in need throughout the four surrounding counties. The GAL7 encompasses Flagler, Volusia, Putnam and St Johns Counties.

“The love, spirit and intent that these ladies put into painting these boxes for the children makes it an absolutely special gift. The kids keep the beautifully painted boxes as a keepsake.”
BEVERLY NAYLOR, Gal7 Foundation Vice President

The Palm Coast Decorative Painters held a “Mad Hatters” fundraising luncheon at Halifax Plantation Country Club, themed off of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” on Saturday, March 12, to raise funds for this year’s gift giving.

“The boxes are distributed every year around Christmas time,” said Gal7 Foundation Vice President Beverly Naylor. “We usually have many boxes left over that we will distribute to the kids throughout the year for special occasions like birthdays. Last year 150 kids in Flagler County were given a Christmas present with the boxes provided by the PCDP.”

The children helped through the GAL7 Foundation are often times abused, neglected or abandoned. Once removed from their situation the kids are placed in foster or group home care, sometimes with little to no belongings. The GAL7 Foundation strives to provide these kids with every opportunity and experience a child living outside of the dependency court system would receive.

For more information visit gal7foundation.org.