🌴 Fire Trucks, Pumpkins, and Donuts, OH MY!

Happy Friday family 💌 

In the wake of the destruction in the Southeast from the hurricane, I’ve found myself to be more grateful for the sunshiny days, (mostly 🧻) stocked grocery stores and gas stations, and general sense of normalcy in Summerville this week. We do know that not everyone in our area came out of Hurricane Helene without damage or loss of food, so if you know of any local needs please reply to this email and let us know.

We’d love to work together to help meet needs in our community. Earlier this week we sent out an email with ways to support the victims of the hurricane, and in our Palmetto Piece section this week we highlight a couple other opportunities to serve.

The fall season in Summerville is chalked full of events for your family.

• If you had a great time celebrating Hispanic Heritage month last weekend at Fiesta on the Square, consider checking out the Summerville Rotary Oktoberfest in Hutchinson Square on Saturday from 11am-6pm. The free event includes fun for the whole family with an Oompah band, petting zoo, jump castles, chicken dance competition, stein hoisting, and a brat eating contest. There will be German food, craft beer, wine, and food from local trucks available for purchase.

• If you are a Halloween fanatic and want to get the festivities kicked off early, put on your costumes and head to Knightsville General Store & Cafe for the Trunk or Treat Vendor Event on Saturday from 9am-3pm featuring local vendors, free candy, and The Dizzy Lamb food truck (from 11am-3pm).

🐶 Unleashing Luxury at Every Appointment

At Palm Belle Grooming, we believe grooming should be a stress-free and enjoyable experience for your dog. That’s why we offer a unique, cage-free, one-on-one grooming service designed to give your pet the undivided attention they deserve.

Why Choose Us?

• Private, One-on-One Sessions: Your dog will enjoy a completely private grooming session, ensuring they receive personalized care in a calm, comfortable environment.

• Cage-Free Comfort: We don’t use cages or kennels. Instead, your dog has the freedom to relax and feel at home while being pampered.

• All-Inclusive Packages: From bathing and brushing to nail trims and ear cleaning, our comprehensive grooming packages include everything your dog needs to look and feel their best!

Treat your dog to a grooming experience like no other.

Book their private, cage-free appointment today and discover the Palm Belle Grooming difference!

Use code: Palmetto Parents for a FREE mud bath upgrade in October! 

This treatment is rejuvenating, hydrating and a true ZEN experience! ($40 value)

Call 854.333.7312 or schedule an appointment here.

To Do: Get A Pumpkin from the Patch at Westbury Farm

Our favorite midtown u-pick strawberry patch has transformed to a u-pick pumpkin patch! Westbury Farm is currently open for the festive fall season. Last fall we had a blast towing our young one in a wagon to go out to the patch and find a pumpkin right off the vine.

The MaryMeade market on the farm also sells pre-picked pumpkins of all colors and styles along with mums and other fall plants. The farm is filled with fun fall activities, too.

They are gearing up to host their Fall Festival at the Pumpkin Patch on October 12th, which will feature games, train rides, and a cutest pumpkin in the patch contest (see details).

Westbury Farm is in the heart of Summerville at 1005 North Gum Street. Typical hours for the u-pick pumpkin patch are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. It’s best to check their Facebook page before heading over since the patch sometimes needs to close due to weather or other unforeseen challenges. The patch will be open until late October. Pumpkins from the u-pick patch are $10 each.

Going out in the patch not your vibe? We saw some jumbo pumpkins for sale at Harris Teeter this week for 2/$12. 😉 

❗️ Local giveaway alert❗️ 

Check out Summerville’s one and only Parent & Me art class company, Abstract Adventures. Abstract Adventures will be giving away two art baskets including a LCD writing tablet, a 3D printed paint palette, a Crayola paint set, a brush set, an art storage frame and an Abstract Adventures keychain. Start by following them on Instagram and you will get an entry when you share their page, tag your friends, and mention Palmetto Parents in a DM to them. Winners will be drawn on October 11th.

And save the date for the Abstract Adventures/SummervilleMomma playdate at Mellow & Play Cafe on October 11th.

Event: Fire Prevention Parade and Display

On Monday night, October 7th, Summerville Fire & Rescue is hosting their annual Fire Prevention Parade and Display. This is an engaging and educational event that’s sure to delight kids and leave them a little more prepared in case of an emergency. At 6pm a parade of fire trucks and emergency vehicles will kick off in the Oakbrook area of Summerville on Midland Parkway to Old Trolley Rd., then onto Main St. through Historic Downtown Summerville, and finally end at the Lowe's Shopping Center in the N. Main Market Shopping Center.

The trucks will arrive to Lowe’s around 6:20 and stay there until 8pm for an opportunity for families to come explore the trucks, sit in them, and talk to firefighting professionals.

Want more firefighter fun? Check out the library’s firefighter storytime on October 23rd.

Restaurant: Annie’s Hot Donuts

We typically like to keep it local for this newsletter, but this week we’re venturing out to share about a donut shop in Mount Pleasant that we feel deserves a mention. 🍩 

If you already have an errand to run in Mount Pleasant (*cough…Trader Joe’s…cough*) or you just need to take an adventure on the other side of the bridge, Annie’s Hot Donuts is a super fun spot for kids. As their name implies, all their donuts are cooked to order and served hot. You can choose from their large menu of unique flavor combos OR you can create your own combo, which kids always have a blast doing. Kids can sit at the bar and watch their donut being created (shown below). A huge bonus is that they can also prepare gluten free donuts. I enjoyed a gluten free donut with honey icing and chocolate chips, Daniel got a maple bacon donut, and our son got a confetti donut loaded with sprinkles. They also have coffee for the adults and rainbow colored bagels as another fun treat for the kids.

Owner Annie is a working mom in Mount Pleasant who invested the money she saved to redo her kitchen into creating this business. She realized there was a need for a family friendly spot to get hot donuts, and took action.

The inside of the store is super eclectic and they have an upstairs party room with games that they open up for Mommy & Me mornings from 8:30am-11:30am on Mondays. The party room includes a soft play zone with toys, a basketball hoop, games and puzzles, a play kitchen, video games, and more. It’s a good time for a range of ages.

You can stop by and enjoy a donut everyday from 7am-3pm at 1247 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant.

Palmetto Piece: Teaching Your Kids to Give Back

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the joy of giving back. Teaching kids to care for others and their community starts with small, simple actions. It might be as easy as collecting canned goods for a blessing box, picking up litter at a local park, or making cards for a neighbor who needs a little cheer. These acts may seem small, but they plant seeds of empathy and generosity that will grow as they do.

Giving back helps kids see that they have the power to make a difference, no matter their age. It builds compassion, gratitude, and a sense of connection to the world around them. When your child sees the smile on a neighbor’s face or knows they've helped someone in need, that feeling sticks—it’s a life lesson more valuable than words.

With the current tragedy throughout Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, there’s definitely opportunity to teach your kids to care for others. Have your kids go to the store with you to buy goods or go through their toys and clothes to pick out things to donate. Two local businesses are currently collecting items for hurricane victims. Cafe de Fleur is collecting items for moms and babies like diapers/wipes, ready to feed formula, and pumping items. The CODfather in Nexton is collecting items like clothes, blankets, non perishable food, toiletries, and bottled water and sports drinks.

There will be opportunities related to Hurricane Helene going on for awhile, but there’s always opportunities to serve the local community with our kids. Here’s a few volunteer opportunities for kids and teens in Summerville:

1) Hearts for Summerville: This organization focuses on supporting the youth through various programs and community events. Families can volunteer together on "Service Saturdays" or take part in initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of children in areas like literacy, life skills, and community belonging​.

2) Katie’s Krops: A youth-led organization that encourages children of all ages to participate in gardening to help fight hunger. Volunteers can help grow fresh produce that is distributed to food pantries, shelters, and families in need. They also host dinners, and volunteer opportunities are open to individuals and families who want to contribute to this cause​.

3) Dorchester Habitat for Humanity: While construction site volunteering is limited to those 16 and older, kids 14 and older can help at the Habitat ReStore. They can assist with organizing and preparing items for sale, contributing to the mission of providing affordable housing to those in need.

So, find a cause that matters to your family and get involved, even in a small way. And remember, the biggest lessons often come from the smallest acts of kindness. Let’s raise kids who give back, not because they have to, but because their hearts are full and they truly want to. ❤️

That’s it for this week! Thanks for reading, and see you next Friday 😁 

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 

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