PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DESSERT DONATIONS … Ashley Reed and Kennedy Stuut offer a wide variety of donated desserts, from cookies to cake pops.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Edon community came together on Friday, October 24, to support one of their own through a very difficult time.
The benefit for Jamie Duvall Hoffman was hosted in the field parking lot prior to the football game, with activities kicking off at 4:30 p.m. The parking lot was soon bustling, and the crowd continued to grow as the game drew closer.
Hoffman, a graduate of Edon High School and mother to a current senior, is battling brain cancer. The same day, Hoffman rang the bell, celebrating her last radiation treatment.
The tailgate meal was offered for free will donations. Options included pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, chili, chips, and desserts.
Many community members contributed cookies, chips, water, and their time, including several teachers who volunteered to serve after the game started, allowing the senior mothers to watch the game.
Hoffman thanked everyone via Facebook for the ongoing support, stating, “This little town is the very best!”
In addition to the meal, funds were collected for ribbons and Dum-Dum suckers, a poignant nod to Hoffman’s position as an operator at Spangler Candy Company.
The community was out in full force, despite the chilly weather. The picnic tables were full of patrons chatting and showing their support.
“It takes a strong team to tackle cancer,” the initial online advertisement proclaimed, and judging by the turnout, Hoffman has a large team supporting her.