JCH&L Auxiliary Salad Festival Successful

Nearly $900 was raised during the annual salad festival of the Jefferson Community Health & Life Auxiliary on May 8 in Fairbury.

A total of 145 people were served at the festival, according to Lana Likens, director of public relations, marketing and development at Jefferson Community Health & Life. The Salad Festival is one of the main fund-raisers for the JCH&L Auxiliary each year, and has a long tradition in Fairbury. The first salad festival was held in 1965.

“It takes a tremendous amount of community support to have a fund-raiser continue for 60 years. We thank all of those who helped to make this event successful once again,” Likens said. “It is a fun community spring event that also helps to fund good work by the auxiliary.”

The salad festival itself takes much volunteer time and effort, Likens said. More than 35 individuals volunteer their time to help during the day and more than 70 items of food are donated.

Tables were decorated with plants from the Fairbury FFA greenhouse, and more than $150 was raised for the Fairbury FFA with the sales of the plants.

The auxiliary provides scholarships to students entering medical fields and provides Christmas gifts for nursing home residents at JCH&L Gardenside, in addition to providing volunteer support for JCH&L in a variety of ways.