Contributed Photo: Get your DAR chocolate-covered strawberries for your Valentine. Order by texting or calling (928) 432-5122. The cutoff date for orders is Feb. 7.
Contributed Article/Courtesy Bonnie Briscoe-DAR member
SAFFORD – Since February is approaching and Valentine’s Day will soon be here, the Gila Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with the help of Mt. Graham High School, is gearing up for their annual “Strawberries for Scholarships and Student Awards” fundraiser.
The process of creating the strawberry plates for this fundraiser is a task that is well worth the effort. In the past, along with DAR members, a handful of students from Mt Graham High School have always been a big help. This year more students will be available because this whole process will happen at the school’s culinary arts department under the supervision of their teacher, Mrs. Sheila Pompeo.
In gearing up, the chapter is currently taking orders for their plates of freshly dipped, assorted only, chocolate-covered strawberries. The cutoff date for accepting orders is Feb 7. DAR recommends calling ahead before the cutoff date of Feb. 7 in case supplies run out due to demand.
This year, only the assorted variety of six chocolates can be ordered. This will include the following toppings: one dark chocolate, one white chocolate, one dark chocolate coated with pecans, one white chocolate coated with pecans, one white chocolate with milk chocolate swizzles, and one milk chocolate with white chocolate swizzles.
A dozen plate at $20 will include two of each topping and a half-dozen plate at $10 will have one of each topping.
To place an order: text or call 928-432-5122 and give your name, phone number, and number of plate size desired, or contact someone you know in the DAR chapter to take your order.
In addition to helping with the strawberries, Mt. Graham High School will also be the new pickup location for this year. Pickup is Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The school is east of the Safford Cemetery at 300 W. Discovery Park Blvd. in Safford. Look for the signs on the fence. Payment, in the form of cash or check, is due at pickup.
The money raised from these sales goes toward scholarships to local high school students in Graham County who are dual-enrolled in general education classes at EAC and submit a winning essay in the chapter’s Patriotic Essay Contest. With this fundraiser being successful every year, the DAR chapter is now able to offer four scholarships valued at $600, $500, $400, and $300 to help with tuition and books.
The funds also go toward student awards, giving a monetary gift of $50 in May to one senior from each of the seven high schools in Graham and Greenlee counties who are chosen for the DAR Good Citizen Award.
With students submitting essays and high schools choosing good citizens, this has always encouraged the chapter to continue this Valentine’s Day tradition; “Strawberries for Scholarships and Student Awards!”
