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On Feb. 14, the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated their “Love Local” campaign in downtown Greenville.

The group’s Camellia Girls and Chamber Page showed their love of Greenville by designing their own works of art in chalk on the sidewalks downtown.

From one end of Commerce Street to the other, the teens expressed their love and hometown pride for all to see.

“They just got out and filled the sidewalks,” Tracy Salter said. “It was the greatest, positive message. They had a ball with it and did a great job.”

Business owners, residents, and visitors alike passing through downtown on Valentine’s Day got a chance to see the colorful hearts, flowers, and messages of love spelled out on the sidewalks.

Tracy Salter, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, made sure the young ambassadors worked up a hearty appetite and were rewarded with a special lunch at Camellia City Bakery at the crosswalk in downtown Greenville.

Bakery owner and Chamber member Ann Judah said she was more than happy to host lunch for the hard working kids.

“Tracy called me about it and said they were going to be downtown doing the chalk paintings and all,” Judah said. So Tracy and I thought it would be a good idea for them to get some sandwiches and chips, and some drinks, the things kids that age like.

She and Salter both agreed the lunch would be a win-win situation.

“They pulled some tables together and had a really good time,” Judah said.

The teens presented Judah with a banner, designed and created by Camellia Girl, Kalee Russell.

“I love it!” Judah said. “I’m leaving it up all year long. I’m not taking it down.”

Judah, like many other business owners in downtown Greenville, believes that the city needs more “local love”; not just in the month of Feb, but all year long.

“We need to “love local” 12 months out of the year,” Judah said.

The volunteer artists posed with Judah, showing off the handmade banner attached to her counter.

The only way to show off the banner and the kids, Judah said, was to take the picture behind the bakery’s counter.

The Chamber planned this event well in advance  and the day was a hit for everyone involved.

The message the kids helped spread came through loud and clear to anyone who used the downtown sidewalks of Greenville on Valentine’s Day.

“It was all about keeping it local,” Salter said.