ON FEB. 2, LOWCOUNTRY RESIDENTS CAN HELP IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY — ONE BOWL OF SOUP AT A TIME.

From noon to 4 p.m. at Coligny Plaza, in the area between FISH Casual Coastal Seafood and Skillets Cafe & Grill, local chefs will serve up their favorite soups as part of the Souper Bowl of Caring, an annual fundraiser to benefit Second Helpings, a local charity that “rescues” food from area grocery stores and delivers it to food pantries for distribution to those in need.

THE ART OF SHOWING UP

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry recently sponsored the second TEDxHiltonHeadWomen conference. The independently organized TED event brings together local speakers to share their ideas on issues important to women.

Here come the holidays — and they’re bringing with them a host of activities. Decorating the house, cooking, holiday parties: Instead of singing, “Let It Snow,” you might be humming “Let It Stop.” For me — and maybe you, too — the most stressful part of the holiday season is gift-giving. Every year, I feel overwhelmed by making a list and checking it twice for my family. But what if we shifted our focus to give ourselves simple, effective, health-minded goals? Here are just a few ideas:

Every year, the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival recognizes one collector for his or her continued participation and support. This year, that recognition goes to Paul Ianuario of Duncan.

Selected for his regular contributions to Concours, Ianuario has attended every event since the inaugural Hilton Head event in 2002, also frequently serving as a judge — including chief judge — and exhibiting vehicles. He joined Concours’ board of directors in 2017.

We often look at wellness-oriented treatment options like bodywork, spa sessions, exercise classes, health coaches and eating organic foods as luxuries — something “extra” we do for ourselves. But each of these treatments benefits our quality of life and, ultimately, our longevity — making even a 15-minute chair massage a health necessity. Here are a few reasons why you might want to indulge in some self-love.

Sarah Hurst is willing to consider just about any medical treatment that will help her 4-year-old daughter. So it didn’t sit well with her when she heard a top South Carolina law-enforcement officer label the hemp oil her daughter takes to help control seizures as “snake oil.”

“I’ve seen it stop a seizure after three minutes,” says Hurst, 34, of Bluffton.

Some of the Lowcountry’s best artists submitted works depicting Hilton Head Island and Bluffton for our City Guide issue. Enjoy their renditions of our local landscapes and landmarks here.

THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME WITH BOATUS

I recently had the chance to test-drive a few boats with BoatUS, the nation’s largest organization of recreational boat owners. In addition to selling boat insurance, the company also teaches boating safety courses and helps educates boaters on environmental issues. I was excited to get on board and get going.

BUILDINGS PUT CLASSROOM FOCUS ON STUDENTS

Winston Churchill famously once said, “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” Several local schools are taking this to heart and are expanding or building new campuses — with learning at the forefront of the design.

Hilton Head Christian Academy, Cross Schools, Royal Live Oaks Charter School and the new Polaris Tech Charter School are all embracing student-centered learning, which is characterized by a curriculum that teachers can personalize to fit each student.