DAR selling chocolate-covered strawberries to raise funds for annual scholarship

Contributed Photo: Laila West, left, and Brooklyn Angle, both of Thatcher, were last year's scholarship winners of the DAR Gila Valley Chapter Patriotic Essay Contest, which was funded by the sale of chocolate-covered strawberries last Valentine's Day.

Contributed Photo: Laila West, left, and Brooklyn Angle, both of Thatcher, were last year’s scholarship winners of the DAR Gila Valley Chapter Patriotic Essay Contest, which was funded by the sale of chocolate-covered strawberries last Valentine’s Day.

Contributed Article

GRAHAM COUNTY – Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. What’s your plan? Perhaps some chocolate-covered strawberries would be just the thing.

The local DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) has a very tasty solution to help you celebrate. This is their fifth year of offering an assortment of freshly-dipped and nicely decorated strawberries. The strawberries are donated by Safeway to fund the DAR scholarship awards and the dipping is done by DAR members and volunteer students from Mount Graham High School.

Each year has been more successful than the previous and last year allowed the chapter to offer two scholarships instead of one. This fundraiser supports DAR scholarships ($500 and $250) to high school students residing in Graham and Greenlee counties who are dual enrolled at EAC, taking general education classes. The additional fees and cost of books can be a burden on the families of these deserving students, and DAR is honored to be part of their solution.

Last year, during the Constitution Week celebration (Sept. 17-23), the chapter awarded a $500 scholarship to Laila West and a $250 scholarship to Brooklyn Angle. For the scholarship, each applicant chooses to write an essay from designated topics, such as: Based on love and appreciation for sacrifices made by the early patriots of this nation, and what I intend to do to keep the patriotic spirit alive in my family and community. A record number of essays were submitted and all had merit, which made the final selections difficult, but it was also an encouragement to continue what is now becoming a Valentine’s Day tradition.

DAR hopes to continue to offer these scholarships and does so through the Valentine’s Day sale. So, order some delicious chocolate-covered strawberries today.

What you need to know

DAR is taking orders through Feb 9 at 6 p.m.

Cost:  half dozen – $10; dozen $15

How to order:  Text or call Donna at 928-965-4746, and give your name, phone number, and amount of half-dozen and/or whole dozen plates you need.

Pick-up time is between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day

Pick-up Location:  830 S. 20th Ave. Safford (Southwest corner of 8th Street and 20th Avenue) Look for the signs.

Pay:  cash or check only when you pick up your order

Your chocolate-covered strawberries will be awaiting you, plated, bagged and decorated with pretty ribbons, so there is no work on your part. Sounds easy and it is. See you on Valentine’s Day!