Shriner's Annual Vadilia Onion Fund Raiser
April 24, 2017
From: Medinah Shrine
550 North Shriners Drive
Addison, Illinois 60101
Contact: John "JAY JAY" Joseph at 847-483-4520 cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE VIDALIA ONIONS ARE COMING … THE ONIONS ARE COMING!
The new crop of Vidalia Onions is almost here! Under the direction of our Potentate Lance Evans and his onion chairman John "JAY JAY" Joseph, members of the Medinah Shrine Clubs and Units are busy selecting various locations to sell them to the public. The target again this year will be busy street corners, farmer markets, and major restaurants that focus on purchasing local produce. For a location near you checkout the Medinah website at: www.medinah.org.
This year Shrine Club members expect to sell around 73,000 lbs. of the Georgia delicacy. Proceeds of the sale will be used to raise funds for various Shrine operations including special activity clubs and parade units. The annual Vidalia onion sale, serves as one of the main fund raisers for the Medinah Shriners.
The 2017 Onion Chairman, John "JAY JAY" Joseph declared that this year's bags are expected to hold the cost line and keep prices at the same levels as in past years. A 10 lb. bag of Vidalia's will sell for $11.00. You can get two 10 lb. bags for $20 or a half bag for $6. Because the onions come direct from the field of the grower, freshness is expected to last from 4 to 6 months.
The Shriners are scheduled to receive their onions on May 3rd & 4th. Sales to the public will begin on Friday, May 5th with additional sales on both Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th.
According to John "JAY JAY" Joseph, Medinah's 2017 Onion Chairman, "Everybody loves these onions." The Vidalia strain is the sweetest and most flavorful variety. Best of all, they stay fresh for a long time and don't make you tear up when you peel or cut them. You can use them raw for hot dogs and hamburgers … or get creative and make a knockout onion soup!
Add …. Vidalia Onion Sales
"This year's Vidalia onion push will not only be directed at selling onions on busy city and suburban street corners, but also be broadened to include onion supplies at local area restaurants. Sales efforts will include various farmers' markets. In the past, the Northwest Suburban Shrine Club - part of the Medinah Shrine sales team - sold around 100 bags of onions in one 5 hour period at the Palatine Farmers' Market. We plan to be at this location again this year on Saturday, May 6th from 8 AM to 1 PM.
Among the 35 communities across Northern Illinois where Shriners will be selling Vidalia Onions are the following: Addison, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Batavia, Beach Park, Berkley, Bloomingdale, Braidwood, Elgin, Elmhurst, Fox Lake, Geneva, Glenview, Hampshire, Joliet, Kankakee, Lake Bluff, Lindenhurst, Lombard, Manteno, Minooka, Morris, New Lenox, North Riverside, Oswego, Oak Forest, Oaklawn, Palatine, Roselle, South Elgin, Tinley Park, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Wilmington, Yorkville and Zion. Check out the Medinah website for locations near you: www.medinah.org
The Shrine is one of the nation's largest fraternal bodies. It supports a network of 22 non-profit children's hospitals around the country. This medical network helps children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lips and palates. The kids receive all services in a family-centered environment regardless of the patient's ability to pay. In the Chicago area, Medinah Shriners efforts help fund the health care needs at the Shrine Hospital for Children on Oak Park Avenue. This facility has been the leader in pediatric orthopedic care since 1922. It specializes in orthopedics and provides services to children with congenital deformities, problems resulting from orthopedic injuries (spinal cord injuries) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In addition, they provide care for children who with Cleft Lip and Palate.
For more information about Shriners, Medinah, or Vidalia Onion sales, and sales locations log onto the Shrine's website at: Medinah.org.