NEWS

Elmwood expands ice cream social by adding parade

Sheri Trusty

GREEN SPRINGS – When Amanda Picciuto was a little girl, she enjoyed attending ice cream socials at Elmwood Health Care Center at the Springs.

Her mother, Kathy Hunt, is the CEO and owner of the facilities, so Picciuto grew up spending a lot of time there.

“We’ve been doing the ice cream socials since we’ve been in business in the ’70s. When I was a little girl, we had them on the front yard. They were less extravagant,” Picciuto said.

The event grew from a simple gathering to a large family event thanks to Picciuto, who today serves as Elmwood’s administrator.

On Sunday, Elmwood hosted an ice cream social that drew in hundreds of people. The event featured a parade, a car show, bounce houses, a petting zoo, clowns, kids games and live music. The event was free and open to the public.

“When I came back to this location, they still had ice cream socials, but they were more low-key and they were held inside. I wanted to open it up. I have two kids, and I wanted my kids to have some memories of Elmwood like I had,” Picciuto said. “Plus, I love doing stuff for the public.”

The event also served another purpose: getting people into the nursing home to dispel stereotypes. Often, people have negative images that keep them away, especially children.

“We want to provide a fun atmosphere so the next generation can see it’s not scary, it’s fun,” Picciuto said. “It’s a way to give back to the community, because the community is everything to us.”

Part of that fun was the 50 gallons of free vanilla ice cream served at the social. Visitors could choose from about a dozen different toppings, including candy bits, nuts, whipped cream and fresh fruit.

The ice cream was handmade by members of Calvary United Methodist Church in Green Springs. Making ice cream is a decades-old tradition at the church. Church members Beverly Gilbert and Kay Lutz, who helped make the ice cream, attended the event.

About 20 people worked together to make the ice cream at the church last Saturday. They made 80 gallons total — 50 for the ice cream social and 30 for another upcoming event.

“Some people mix, some people crack the eggs and some people make the custard. There’s a job for everybody,” Gilbert said. “We used 26 dozen eggs. It took us from 8 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.”

The remaining 30 gallons of ice cream is being reserved for a Brat Fest at the church on Sept. 12. The event will feature brats, beef and chicken sandwiches, potato salad and homemade ice cream.

“We’ll have all those good toppings for the brats, like onions, green peppers and sauerkraut,” Gilbert said.

This is the second year the ice cream social included a parade. There were about 35 entries, including Boy Scout Troop 406. Scouts Justin Moyer, 17, and David Owens, 16, were in the group.

“We carried the flags and marched in the parade,” said David Owens, 17. “It was the first time for us, but our troop has done it before.”

After the parade, the boys sat inside Elmwood enjoying ice cream.

“It’s really good, especially with the stuff in it. I had mint, Reese’s, chocolate and whipped cream,” Moyer said.

The ice cream social also featured Nana’s Kitchen selling authentic Mexican food; Momma’s Sweet Shop selling homemade fudge and cookies; the Fremont chapter of Heaven on Wheels of the Christian Motorcyclists Association; and Hopechest Farms of Green Springs, which sponsored a petting zoo with a dog, a pony and several goats.

The next Elmwood-sponsored event, Harvest Fest, will take place Oct. 24 at the Green Springs Park. The event will include a 5K, farmers market, kids tent, beer tent, craft show, live band and cornhole tournament.