Annual dessert fest seeks sweet goal

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love dessert.

At least that was the thought when three volunteers at City Mission in Washington, Pa., came up with the idea to hold a dessert festival as a fundraiser in 1994.

“They thought it would be wonderful if they got 100 people,” recalls Sally Mounts, the nonprofit’s chief development officer. In actuality, more than 600 turned up, cementing the event’s reputation as the premier fundraising event in Washington County during February.

Last year, just days before the entire state shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event at Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe drew more than 3,000 guests, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the mission.

It has been a little more complicated this year. With social distancing guidelines still in place, the nonprofit had to decide whether to cancel the event, postpone it until summer or go virtual like so many other fundraisers.

It chose to go with the flow online.

City Mission is hosting its virtual Sweet Sunday event, live, on Sunday. Boxes of sweets from 15 local vendors can be ordered ahead of time online. Those living within 30 miles of the organization and who order at least $10 worth of goods can get the boxes home delivered by one of the 70 volunteers. Prices range from $10 for 20 desserts to $20 for 45. The Wedding Cookie Table community is offering boxes of 12 assorted wedding cookies for $15.

Through Sunday, participants also can enter raffles for various gift baskets, a “Wreath of Wealth” of more than two dozen gift cards, and a custom-made dollhouse. Or, they can bid on auction items and luxury travel experiences, like a trip to the Italian Amalfi Coast or a NASCAR driving experience. They can vote on their favorite dessertsl and the People’s Choice winners will be announced on Facebook on March 2.

Scott Blasey of The Clarks will play a live concert on Facebook on the day of the event.

Because Sweet Sunday’s donated cookies and other baked goods are offered at such a low price point, says Ms. Mounts, the fundraiser attracts a lot of attention. This year, the numbers exceeded their expectations, she says, to the point some of the sweets have already sold out since being listed online on Feb. 15.

Founded in 1941, City Mission’s goal is to address the short-term need of food and shelter for underserved communities. To that end, the Mission runs four separate shelters at its campus at 84 W. Wheeling St., including ones for women, men, veterans and women with children.

It provides community outreach with free food and medical care, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health and medical treatment and legal aid. In addition, it operates several local thrift stores that provide job skills training for mission residents.

Going virtual, says Ms. Mounts, has been a real learning experience, but one the organization is glad to have had.

“So many of our donors are online now, and like virtual events,” she says.