March 16 painting fundraiser to benefit Lightship Overfalls Foundation

Painting with a Twist, an art and social studio in Lewes, will host a Painting with a Purpose charity event at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 16, to benefit The Overfalls Foundation, whose mission is to collect, preserve, honor and teach the maritime history of Lewes, the Delaware Bay and the coastal region.

The studio will offer a two-hour class featuring an original painting of the Lightship Overfalls created by local artist Kim Hanna, an instructor at the studio. No painting experience is needed, and the event will include complimentary wine, beer and light fare snacks. To sign up, go to www.paintingwithatwist.com/lewes/calendar.

Each month, franchisees from across the nation hold painting fundraisers through the Painting with a Purpose program to benefit local charities. For this event, 50 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Overfalls Foundation. To date, Painting with a Twist studios have raised more than $3.2 million for nonprofit organizations.

"We're honored to support The Overfalls Foundation in their mission to preserve the Lightship Overfalls, one of only 17 remaining lightships and a National Historic Landmark," says John Peterson, studio owner.

The Overfalls Foundation relies on membership and fundraising to sustain its work. Although the major restoration of the ship and slip has been completed, maintenance and continued restoration are ongoing in order to prevent the ship from falling into a state of decay. These activities are necessary to keep the ship in its museum-quality condition to allow future generations of visitors to experience life aboard a lightship. For more information, go to www.overfalls.org.