​Ocean City Store Provided Art, Music ‘When These Kids Needed It'

OCEAN CITY, NJ — When students’ daily routines were upended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pam Ginet’s children had to quickly adapt to virtual learning. To help kids ease into this new normal, the owners of Peace of Wood in Ocean City offered free art sessions on social media featuring “uplifting messages for the kids to help them get through,” Ginet said.

Peace of Wood sells art, clothing and skateboards crafted by local artists, and offers paint classes for people of all ages in their store at 112 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City.

When the store closed its doors in mid-March, owners Kristina and Marshall Young got creative and hosted hour-long virtual “paint jams" on Facebook and Instagram, where they shared music and taught kids how to draw every day for the next two months.

Peace of Wood was among several establishments nominated for Patch's "Business of the Year" in Ocean City as many businesses continue to battle through the coronavirus pandemic.

But it was these businesses, the customers say, that also came through for others in need — even as they were struggling themselves.

“Their business is closed and yet they are offering free drawing sessions and prizes for kids to spread love and positivity when these kids needed it the most,” Ginet said.

Peace of Wood also encouraged adults to participate in the daily art sessions. When the Youngs concluded the virtual sessions in May, they began selling take-home art kits, complete with ready-to-hang hardware, paints and paintbrushes, that were available for curbside pick-up.

Colleen Kenney also nominated Peace of Wood, saying, “They went the extra mile during shut down to do daily virtual paint jams with kids for FREE, and promoted an hour of fun, art, music and sweet messages for all ages.”

Another customer, Court Lloyd, said, “They gave us a connection of community we had been missing since being quarantined and especially they brought huge smiles to our kids faces."

Here is how Peace of Wood introduced the daily "paint jams" in March:

Patch readers nominated a Local Businesses of the Year. The local businesses included retail stores, restaurants, hardware shops, dry cleaners, plumbers, car mechanics, salons and more.

Patch will feature nominated businesses in December.

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