The Matlock Recreation Club is getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit by hosting an upcoming Valentine’s Cookie Gram and will also be holding a free dinner and dance a few days later to bring the community together.
For Valentine’s Day, the club’s cookie gram event will let people purchase cookies that come in a Valentine’s bag and that can be delivered to someone they’re sweet on or to a loved one.
The club’s recreation coordination Crystal Thordarson said this is the second year the club is hosting the cookie gram.
“It is something we started last year for the first time. One of the board members came up with the idea to give out cookie grams,” said Thordarson. “Older people in the community or people with health issues were not going out a lot because of COVID, and she decided it would be something nice to do.”
Last year, the club had about 40-50 people order cookies.
Thordarson said she and a board member deliver the cookies to people living in the Matlock, Winnipeg Beach, Sandy Hook and Gimli areas. Or people can make arrangements to pick up their orders from the club or from the bakers in Gimli.
There are two cookie gram packages to choose from: cookies with a do-it-yourself decorating kit are being supplied by Kris10’s Kreations (A Gimli-based home baker) for $10 a bag, and imperial and heart-shaped cookies are being supplied by the Sugar Me Cookie Bakery in Gimli for $10 a bag.
“You can order either package or both. The do-it-yourself decorating kit went over really well last year. Lots of parents got that for their kids,” said Thordarson. “Some people also ordered both packages.”
In addition to the cookie gram, the club is holding a Mix N’ Mingle Dinner & Dance on Feb. 17 that will feature a free spaghetti supper, salad, garlic bread and Jell-O for dessert, as well as music by Allan Sulyma.
“The club really values our community members, and the board of directors thought it would be really nice to offer this to people in the community. For most of the club’s events we do charge, but we thought it would be nice to offer a free event where all are welcome and you don’t have to worry about whether you can afford it not,” said Thordarson. “It will be a nice event for all people in all walks of life, whether single or married with young kids. I’ve had some people call who are new to the area and they’re looking forward to coming out and meeting other people.”
There will be a silver collection at the door for those who can afford to contribute.
The recreation club’s board of directors said the event is, to the best of its knowledge, the first free dinner for the community the club has hosted, and they’re aiming to build closer ties among members of the community.
“In lieu of recent tough times – post-pandemic – for everybody the MRC wanted to be able to offer a fun gathering and let people enjoy themselves. They might otherwise be excluded if they couldn’t afford it,” said the board in a statement. “Our hope is to be able to contribute in a positive way to the mental health and wellbeing of our community members. If this event goes well, we would like to offer it again.”
Thordarson said the dinner and dance is capped at 150 people. She’s had about 80 people register [as of last Wednesday].
To order cookies or to register for the dinner, call or text Crystal at (204) 798-6276.
