Valentine’s Day came early for these available Brooklynites.
More than 150 ready-to-mingle singles took a chance at love during a Valentine’s Day Oasis Singles party at The First Evangelical Free Church on Feb. 7. The Christian organization holds three events a year for romantic free agents who are fed up with the dating rat race, an organizer said.
“These people are burnt out from the bar scene,” said Oasis director Cindy Ruperto. “They want to meet like-minded people that have the same values — not just go out for the evening.”
Ruperto met her husband at a planning session for the first Oasis mixer eight years ago, she said.
To loosen up the boy-girl party, Ruperto brings food, live music, and guest speakers, she said. Her goal is to get people’s minds off the pressure of finding someone and just let them have fun. And that’s the key, said one attendee who found love when she stopped looking.
“In the beginning I used to look for someone, but it never worked, so I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to stop trying and just have fun.’ Then I met my boyfriend,” said Doris Neil of Borough Park, who has been attending the events for several years and met beau Kurt Linde last year.
The next Oasis Singles night is set for the spring.
“The Anchor of our Soul” Oasis singles all-day conference at The First Evangelical Free Church [6501 Sixth Ave. between 65th and 67th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 836–0029, www.completeinchrist.com]. April 18, 10 am–6 pm. $25.
