When Village of Glen Falls residents Jan Soucy and Judy Patrick first heard about the Edy’s Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute, they were a little late getting their entries in.

But when Patrick received an envelope from the company, she couldn’t believe she won. “I thought it would say thanks for trying, here’s a coupon. Yikes!” said Patrick.

Soucy was more confident, though, looking at her husband and telling him, “Well, I’m a winner!” Soucy and Patrick chose to share their prizes, ending up with 24 gallons of ice cream, four boxes of ice cream bars, and all the fixings for a summer ice cream social.

The purpose of the Edy’s Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute is to encourage people to share a story or a laugh, maybe even meet for the first time. The company sent Soucy and Patrick a huge box full of napkins and tablecloths, ice cream scoops and sundae containers.

“They supply all the stuff. All we do is supply the people,” said Patrick.

There were signs and invitations, which some of the park’s women helped Soucy hand write while Patrick was out of town. The party for 140 club members took quite a lot of planning. Each guest wore a little Edy’s tag with their names and their favorite ice cream flavor, a great conversation starter if by some chance these park residents didn’t already know each other. Soucy listed chocolate chip, and Patrick said, “There’s just too many to list!”

Introduced by the park’s social club President Gene Pelletier, Patrick’s winning essay was read to the audience, then Soucy read the poem she submitted. Both women wrote to Edy’s about their desire to share the ice cream social experience with their good friends and neighbors.

Patrick reminded Edy’s that, “We have had a winter to try the fortitude of the hardiest New Hampshire residents!” Soucy has lived in the Village of Glen Falls for nine years, and Patrick has lived in the Village for 24 years, almost since its inception.

“We do for others as we hope someone would do for us,” Patrick said.