ERIC BOURQUE
TRI-COUNTY VANGUARD
What better way to help perk up people who maybe are looking for relief from the mid-winter blues than to offer them a tasty meal and scrumptious chocolate dessert?
VON Tri-County has been doing so for a decade-and-a-half and the event – one of the organization’s most popular fundraisers – continues to grow, with the 16th annual edition scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14, at the Yarmouth Lions Club hall.
Billed as a Chocolate Lunch, the event consists of rappie pie, roll, a beverage, and, of course, plenty of assorted chocolate treats. Last year’s event was the biggest to date, with over 500 meals served.
The plan this year again is to have three sittings – 11 a.m. to noon, noon to 1 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Take-outs are available and deliveries will be offered between 11:30 and noon for orders of three meals or more. The deadline for placing orders is Monday, Feb. 10.
Money raised through the event assists VON community support programs, including adult day programs, transportation program and caregiver support and educational programs.
Sandra Hubbard-LeBlanc, program co-ordinator, community support services, with VON Tri-County, says lunch organizers see some familiar faces come out each year, along with new ones, and the comments are very positive.
“Mostly everyone loves chocolate,” Hubbard-LeBlanc said. “It’s also a celebration of sorts for Valentine’s Day. It makes a great gift for people who choose to celebrate the occasion. The bonus is you’re helping others while also treating yourself and your loved one.”
Events such as this one are important for the VON.
“Clients and their caregivers are directly impacted by our community support programs and we receive feedback expressing heartfelt appreciation for what we do in the local area,” Hubbard-LeBlanc said. “Clients report they don’t know what they’d do without VON in their lives.”
That people value what the VON does and appreciate the importance of supporting the organization is pretty clear from the number of people who help out with the VON’s fundraisers, notably the annual Chocolate Lunch, Hubbard-LeBlanc said.
“The fact that we have 40 volunteers working at this event alone speaks volumes,” she said.
For more on the VON, click here.
