Chocolate for Charity

I was recently asked to contribute my "baking skills" for a fundraiser for a local Southern Vermont non-profit organisation, Neighbourhood Connections, and of course I couldn't say no. The Chocolate Fest was held last night at the Landgrove Inn, Landgrove VT and included local chefs and bakers who turned out to supply all things chocolatey to a mob of chocoholics. I was thinking a dozen cupcakes would do it until I realised I had been given billing for the event and decided I had to up the ante.

The result...mini Red Velvet cupcakes neatly packaged in egg boxes.

Aren't they the cutest?? I can't take credit for the idea, Pops suggested it. We have these boxes for our own free range organic eggs, which were used to make the cupcakes. The only down side was that they were impossible to get out once I had neatly placed them in their little holes. Well, at least they looked and tasted good!

I also baked peanut butter and chocolate fudge cupcakes with hazelnut chocolate frosting, and regular sized Red Velvets. 5 dozen to be precise. The event was a roaring success (I would guess about 300 people attended the chocolate blowout in the end). Without exaggeration, all of my cupcakes were gone in half an hour. WOW, people go crazy for chocolate (and I don't even particularly like the stuff)!

Anyway, the point of telling you all of this is to give a little air time to the fantastic work that Neighbourhood Connections does in our community. The work that these fine people do is vital to the people in our communities who require help, advice and support in all areas of health care. Their missions is to "provide preventive health care, education, and social services with particular emphasis on the those most vulnerable. We are dedicated to excellence in our work to improve the health and quality of life for all."

The organisation's focus is to:

• Help families make choices and reduce health care costs
  through early intervention
• Perform physicals in the schools
• Provide school based education for students, families and staff
• Run wellness programs for seniors
• Bring services closer to home for the ageing population
• Hold Health education workshops
• Run support groups
• Provide outreach to individuals, families and groups
• Assist with access to all State and Federal Social Service Programs
• Provide emergency services

Please take moment to read through the services offered, and feel free to get involved if you are in or near this area (serving Londonderry, S. Londonderry, Weston, Chester, Andover, Windham, Winhall, Jamaica, Landgrove and Peru). They need volunteers, funding and supplies to continue their much needed work and as we all know, every little helps!

Judging by the turn out last night, this is a community that is passionate about supporting those in need and it was awesome to see.