Rick Does Swedish Days: Try the World's Best Snow Cone for the World's Best Reason—Hope

One of the things that struck me this week while covering Swedish Days is how important this event is for service organizations.

We've talked for a long time in this town, rightfully so, about all the benefits a festival of this scope brings, from local sales taxes, to foot traffic for local businesses to the priceless PR for our priceless community.

But wandering around town, it's pretty clear that this event is good news for good works, too.

For many clubs and service organizations, the Swedish Days tent or food sales will be the No. 1 fund-raiser of the year. For many, it will be a measure of how much they're able to do in the coming year to help others.

From the Lions to the Rotary to the Knights of Columbus. From the Methodist Church to the Masonic Lodge. From schools to the Geneva History Center to Hearts of Hope.

Which leads us to today's treat.

• A snow cone as big as your head.
• A snow cone so deluxe it must be made only from Hawaiian shaved ice.
• A snow cone that brings hope

Hearts of Hope sells these snow cones at Fourth and James, near the dreaded , where one can always use a little hope.

The mission of Hearts of Hope is safe and drug-free communities. The organization helps restore hope to families through education, advocacy, drug prevention, treatment and recovery.

Its support group is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 13. S. Seventh St. in Geneva.

For more information, call 630-327-9937, or stop by Fourth and James and grab a snow cone.

Next up: Kids Parade! (I think)