The annual Valley Vonka chocolate bars are back, but they won’t last long!
This year the Alberni Valley News has asked the hardworking Oompa Loompas at Coombs Country Candy to make 1,000 delicious chocolate bars with three golden tickets hidden inside.
The money raised from the sale of the bars benefits the Literacy Alberni Raise-A-Reader campaign. Those funds will then be partially matched by Raise-A-Reader.
Valley Vonka is based on the movie (and book) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Just like in that story, there are golden tickets hidden in three of the chocolate bars and each ticket holder will receive a great prize.
For those who look forward to the Valley Vonka bars every year, you will notice they are a bit smaller this year. This is not an attempt at shrinkflation.
“It is important to us at the AV News to continue to support Literacy Alberni with our annual Valley Vonka project, but the cost of chocolate has risen significantly,”
explains Alberni Valley News publisher Teresa Bird. “We wanted to make sure every dollar raised continues to go to Literacy Alberni and we didn’t want to pass the extra cost on to our generous sponsors. So we worked with our friends at Coombs Country Candy to come up with another solution. The bars are a bit smaller, but are still the masterfully handmade chocolate bars we all love in the Alberni Valley.
“We have reduced our suggested donation from $5 to $4 a bar to reflect the smaller size. All proceeds from the sale of the bars still goes to Literacy Alberni so any amount is appreciated, but I encourage our readers to be generous.”
Inside three of those special bars is a golden ticket waiting to be found by three lucky chocolate lovers. The golden tickets make the recipient eligible to win one of three randomly drawn prizes:
- A big screen TV from The Brick
- Two nights at Tigh-na-mara Resort in Parksville
- $500 in gas/grocery gift cards
“We really appreciate the donation of these prizes as well as the support of our other local sponsors who have stepped up to cover the cost of the chocolate bars,” says Bird.
“Most sponsors will have bars available at their place of business. Please support those businesses that support the community.”
Here is list of the businesses that have bars available, and are sponsoring Valley Vonka:
- Alberni District Co-op (Beaver Creek location)
- Bosley's
- Mobius Books
- R. Anderson & Co
- Re/MAX
- Animal Ark
- Quality Care Drugstore
- Alberni Colour Corner
- Jowsey's Furniture
- Coombs Country Candy
- Literacy Alberni
- Alberni Valley News
And next week, look for a special colouring page in the Alberni Valley News for kids 12 and under to showcase their talents. A lucky artist could win chocolate and books for a year, thanks to the generosity of Coombs Country Candy and Mobius Books.
