'Rolling the ice' for a cause

Stone Checking

The 2022 Ice on Ice charity event hosted by the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce benefiting the Project HOPE Food Bank kicked off the season of giving in Hot Springs on Thursday at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort’s Event Center.

Hundreds of people purchased $100 tickets giving them a one-in-five chance to win a half-carat diamond worth $2,800, donated by Lauray’s The Diamond Center.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., dapper attendees traded their tickets in for a Crystal Ridge Distillery cocktail cooled by a single ice cube frozen around a sparkling stone. With gemologists from Lauray’s on standby as the ice melted throughout the night, many would find their stone to be mere cubic zirconia, and five lucky guests would possess a diamond.

In the midst of all the fun, proceeds from the event went to feeding locals — a need that has increased with both children and seniors since nationwide inflation that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project HOPE Food Bank Assistant Manager Becky Chote said they have recently gone from distributing 1 million pounds of food annually to 1.5 million.

Chote said about 70% of their distribution benefits Garland County residents, and about 30% benefits surrounding counties.

Project HOPE has 50 partnerships with local food pantries, feeding programs, crisis centers and children’s homes.

To find a feeding program near you, click here.

For more information about Project HOPE Food Bank, click here.

Music by Mayday by Midnight