Chocolate Celebration coming May 5
Samaritan Caregivers fundraiser features 43 booths filled with tasty treats
This article is brought to you by Friends to Elect Kara Kitts-McKibben.
Whoopie pies. Chocolate churros. Cake pops and candies and cookies and chocolate concoctions. They’ll all be available and the 2023 Samaritan Caregivers Chocolate Celebration on Fri., May 5, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
There will be 43 booths offering a variety of sweet treats along with a plethora of other items, located at First Church of the Nazarene, 2734 S. Washington St. Tickets are 3 for $10, and each ticket can be redeemed for a chocolate treat. Tickets are available in advance at Samaritan Caregivers, 2705 S. Berkley Road, or they can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
Because parking is limited, a shuttle service is being offered this year. Attendees can park in the Maplecrest Plaza, and a shuttle will transport them to the event. And those who use the service will receive a free ticket for the celebration.
The celebration moved to May last year, having been a long-standing Valentine’s Day tradition. According to Samaritan Caregivers director Jamey Henderson, the later date allows people the freedom to enjoy the Chocolate Celebration without fighting the weather. And for those who still can’t make the celebration in person, this year the organization is offering delivery services.
“For people who cannot attend the event because they are working at a business in the greater Kokomo area, we’re offering delivery,” said Henderson. “You can sign up online. You can't say exactly what you want, but you can tell us what types of treats you prefer, like cookies or cake pops or candies or baked goods.
“Then, our volunteers take that list and put together a selection of 12 items for $45, and we bring the chocolate to them on the day of the event.”
Additional treats may be added to the delivery basket at a rate of $10 for 3 items.
The Chocolate Celebration is sponsored by First Farmers Bank and Trust. All proceeds from the event benefit Samaritan Caregivers to provide help and hope for seniors.
Last year’s celebration raised more than $26,000. Henderson explained how the organization uses the funds to help the community. Samaritan Caregivers operates four main programs: food assistance for homebound seniors; transportation for homebound seniors; an Adopt-A-Grandparent program through the Kokomo Schools Corporation; and Medicare Assistance.
“With the grocery program, we provide $40 worth of groceries for 45 people every single month, thanks to the City of Kokomo Community Development Block Grant program,” said Henderson. “The people who call us are ones who truly need the help. They live on canned food: meat, vegetables, and fruits. It's not good for you. How about we get you some bananas and fresh foods?”
The grocery program is in such demand that there is a waiting list, Henderson said. The same can be said of the transportation program.
“We are doing a fair amount of transportation, now that we are post-COVID,” said Henderson. “We get people to their doctor's appointments, medical appointments. Some people can grocery shop themselves, they've got the money. They just don't drive. So they need to ride to the grocery store, or to CVS or a myriad of places that people have to go and take care of business. We help then do that.”
The Adopt-A-Grandparent program might be the most popular offering from Samaritan Caregivers. Henderson explained that more than 1,200 students send cards and friendly greetings every month during the school year to Samaritan Caregivers clients.
“Lisa Ellison from the Kokomo School Board coordinates that program for us as a volunteer,” said Henderson. “She's excellent at it. To tell you how it impacts our clients, we had a guy who called us after Valentine's Day. He said, ‘I hadn't gotten a Valentine in 10 years. I got Valentines!
“And Bob, whose wife died last year, called and said, ‘I went to the mailbox today. It was like Christmas!’ They really enjoy the cards and notes from the kids.”
The Medicare assistance program is a newer offering for the organization. They work with people to go through Medicare’s different programs, provide side-by-side comparisons, and help them choose the plans that best meets their needs.
Samaritan Caregivers relies on direct contributions from the community for 50 percent of its annual budget. The Chocolate Celebration covers about 27 percent of the annual budget. Henderson hopes people come out to enjoy some chocolate and help the organization continue to serve.
“This is our cornerstone fundraising event,” said Henderson. “We are so grateful to a generous community who likes what we do.”
For additional information about Samaritan Caregivers and the Chocolate Celebration, visit samaritancaregivers.org or visit their Facebook page.