Families from across Staten Island gathered last Saturday, May 2nd, at Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices in Greenridge Plaza for an afternoon filled with free treats, music, raffles, and family fun.
Held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the community event brought together several local businesses and volunteers who donated their time and resources to create a fun experience for local families. By the end of the day, nearly 300 free Italian ices had been distributed through vouchers shared on SINeighbors.com.
The event was organized through SINeighbors.com and Rob Laursen, but organizers emphasized that the day would not have been possible without the support and participation of several community-minded local businesses and partners.
Billy Gibleski, owner of Ralph’s Ices in Greenridge Plaza, played a major role in helping make the community giveaway possible and partnered with organizers to host the event for local families.
DJ Little Matt Entertainment provided music for the entire event, helping create a lively atmosphere for attendees throughout the day.
Costume Pals donated a special character appearance, bringing Belle from Beauty and the Beast to the event for free photos with children and families.
Island Auto Group owners Josh and Marcello also participated in the event, raffling off a 55-inch Roku TV along with free oil change giveaways for attendees who signed up at their table.
Families also enjoyed free cotton candy while spending time together outside Ralph’s during the beautiful spring weather.
Community Events Built Through Local Partnerships
Organizers said the event was designed to show what can happen when local businesses, organizations, and community members work together to create positive experiences for Staten Island families.
SINeighbors.com was created to help connect residents with local businesses, community events, local deals, and neighborhood resources while encouraging stronger community involvement across Staten Island.
The businesses involved in Saturday’s event volunteered their participation and donated time, services, giveaways, and entertainment to help make the day possible.
Organizers say they hope to continue building similar family-friendly community events in the future with the support of additional local businesses and residents.
Businesses currently have the opportunity to join SINeighbors.com by creating free listings for their business, events, coupons, and job openings, while residents can use the platform to discover and support local Staten Island businesses and organizations.
Looking Ahead
With strong turnout, great weather, music, giveaways, and hundreds of free ices distributed, organizers called the Greenridge Plaza event a successful example of local businesses and community members coming together for something positive.
Additional community events and partnerships are expected in the future as organizers continue working with local businesses that want to participate in neighborhood-focused initiatives across Staten Island.
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