By Donna Riley-Lein
Staff Writer

LOXLEY, Ala. — With food booths, rides, arts and crafts, and of course, lots and lots of succulent strawberries, the 21st annual Strawberry Festival held this weekend at the Loxley Municipal Park located off Highway 59 in Loxley sounds like a berry, berry good time.

But all the fun has a purpose and leaders of two local organizations, the Loxley Elementary School and the ARC of Baldwin County have their fingers crossed, hoping for good weather, large crowds and big proceeds to fund their programs for the coming year.

“We receive half the proceeds,” Kathy Fleet, the executive director of the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County, said in a telephone interview. “About 70 percent of our budget comes from Medicaid and we have to come up with a 30 to 35 percent match. The festival is very important to us in that it enables us to provide services and assistance to more persons who are intellectually disabled in Baldwin County.”

According to the Strawberry Festival Web site, ARCBC has used its share of the funds to open new residential homes and to purchase vans used at these homes.

The other beneficiary of the festival is the Loxley Elementary School. Dr. De Ann Ramey, principal of Loxley Elementary, holds a doctorate in education.

“The event started as a school fund raiser, Ramey said in a telephone interview. “I can remember it started in the parking lot of the old elementary school.”

The Festival Web site says that the school has used its 50 percent share of the funds to purchase computers for their classroom and library, to air condition their multi-purpose building, and to upgrade their playground equipment.

“The festival raises money for the school,” said Ramey. “The money we receive from taxes is itemized for specific things, but the festival money gives us the freedom to buy things that might be considered extras.”

Ramey added that Strawberry Festival funds have been used to purchase Popsicles for youngsters who have had perfect attendance and t-shirts for students who have earned them with good behavior and extra effort during standardized testing.

“I design the t-shirts,” said Ramey. “The teachers wear them Fridays before the test, and the students have to earn their shirts with good behavior and giving their best effort.”

Another way Loxley Elementary uses “Strawberry Money” is to provide lunches and a snack for students in the three-week summer enrichment program. Ramey says that about 58 percent of her students fall below the poverty line, and Ramey says Festival money is used to make sure students who lack cash for field trips and school supplies are covered.

“We could not function as a school community without it (the funds),” Ramey said. “Once we know how much we will receive, I have several committees who make up wish lists. We try not to make goals for that money. Because there is no way to plan ahead, we don’t rely on it. We use it for the niceties, and make sure that students don’t go without.”

One of the things Ramey is proudest of is that “100 percent” of Loxley Elementary’s faculty and staff volunteers at the Festival.

“I am very impressed that people give up their own vacation time. This year, the festival falls on the first weekend of spring break, and people are giving up that weekend to work.”

The Festival is also a Ramey family affair.

“My parents, and my aunt and uncle are coming to work,” said Ramey.

Fleet isn’t sure exactly where she will be working, but she knows that she’ll be “covered in sticky” before each day is over.

“I have worked selling flats of berries and I’ve worked to prep berries for strawberry shortcake,” Fleet said.

Being a little sticky is a small price to pay for the Festival funds, Fleet believes.

“We serve approximately 185 people,” Fleet said. “We would not be able to provide the services we do without the Festival money.”

Fleet is also unsure when a client will come into her program. No matter, the ARCBC staff is ready.

“Until they (clients) are 21, they receive services from the Baldwin County Schools,” Fleet said. “When they come to us, depends on when the person can no longer live at home with their families. Some families may have an autistic 8-year-old and need help, or others may have an intellectually disabled 16 or 17-year-old. The family has to ask us to assist them.”

ARC clients are able to take advantage of residential “day-habilitation” services, which means they get assistance on an as needed basis, learning about community living and learning to do domestic shores. Other clients receive vocational training.

“The idea is to make sure all our clients become a vital part of the community,” Fleet said.

While ARC clients are supposed to “enjoy the festival,” Fleet knows that more than a few staff members will be joining her behind the booths.

“We will have several staff members working at the festival, and numerous volunteers,” Fleet said. “We are very fortunate that Baldwin County has been so very supportive.”

Reader Feedback

Feedback Rules

Add Your Comments

To add your comments you must be registered and logged in Registered Users Sign in Here *Member ID: *Password: Remember login? (requires cookies)   Become a Registered User Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts! Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required! *Create a Member ID: *Choose a password: *Re-enter password: *E-mail Address: *Year of Birth:   (children under 13 cannot register) *First Name: *Last Name: Home Phone: Business Phone: *Address: *City: *State: *Zip Code:   All comments must be approved by Gulf Coast Newspapers before posting to the Web site.

The opinions expressed in reader-posted comments are not necessarily the opinions of Baldwincountynow.com, Gulf Coast Newspapers or its newspapers and staffs. Baldwincountynow.com, Gulf Coast Newspapers and its newspapers and staffs do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any reader-posted comment. Responsibility for what is posted lies with each user.

Popular Searches Restaurants Physician & Surgeons Automobile Parts Automobile Repair/Service Pizza Automobile Dealers Attorneys/Lawyers Dentists Plumbing Contractors Beauty Salons More Enhanced Listings >>

Calendar of Events