Why Is This Bowling Pin Dressed Like a Peacock?

A peacock, a pianist and a hair dresser all walk into a bowling alley. 

Sounds like the beginning of a silly joke, but on Feb. 2, it actually happened at Dunedin Lanes. And it ended with a heartwarming punchline.

A handful of area businesses and organizations decorated old bowling pins from Dunedin Lanes in an effort to help Paul's Project raise $1,300 toward care packages for families of critically-ill children in area hospitals.

Karen Gliddon, a Dunedin mother who lost her 5-year-old son to childhood leukemia, helps run the organization, which is based in Palm Harbor. 

The care packages contain comfort items not readily available, such as basic hygiene and toiletry items, socks, mints, a calculator, restaurant gift cards, laundry detergent and more — enough to sustain a family for five days. They are all items that would have been helpful to Gliddon in her time of need. Paul's Project also helps families with counseling, housekeeping, pet sitting and child care.

"When you're provided those types of comfort items, you don't feel so isolated," she said.

Along with the decorated bowling pins, the businesses — Art from the Heart Cafe, Dunedin Barber Shop, Dunedin Golf Club, Creative Keys and Kelly's — donated items that were auctioned to benefit Paul's Project.

The business with the best decorated pin?

Kelly's Mardi Gras-esque peacock, of course, with the Creative Keys' pianist coming in a close second.

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Editor's Note: More photos from the event can be found in Dunedin Patch's community scrapbook.