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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The City of Colorado Springs has been forced to make drastic budget cuts in the last few years, eliminating people and programs across the board.
But now, a local non-profit is looking to help the city with some chocolate and wine.
The Trails and Open Space Coalition is a local non-profit that works to preserve open space and parks, and create trails, bikeways and greeways in the Pikes Peak Region.
Recently they came up with a unique and creative idea to raise money to help fund their efforts, and it involves eating chocolate and drinking wine.
"One day the management with the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory walked through my studio door and said they wanted to do a chocolate bar to raise money for the parks and trails around here," Jason Baalman said.
Baalman is a local artist and part of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's marketing team.
He designed a unique Colorado Springs candy bar for the fundraising campaign.
So here is how it works, each chocolate bar costs ten dollars, with five of those dollars going to the Trails and Open Space Coalition.
"What we as an organization will use the money for is to further our sustainable parks initiative, and that is part of an enhanced volunteer effort to take care of trails and open space in the area because of all the cuts to city budgets," Susan Davies, executive director with the Trails and Open Space Coalition said.
Davies said due to the recent budget cuts, local non-profits have been stretched thin.
She said the partnership between the chocolate factory and the coalition will help them help the city, as they will be coordinating local volunteer efforts to maintain parks, trails and open space.
"My organization has taken that on as part of our mission, to help get work done," Davis said.
Along with the chocolate, people can also purchase two bottles of wine from D'Vine Wine, with a portion of the proceeds once again going to the coalition.
Those participating in the fundraising effort said it feels good to give back.
"It is a family business, the chocolate factory, and we live in the community and we want to support the community," Baalman said.
The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory said their goal is to sell 10,000 candy bars, which can be purchased at their shop in Old Colorado City.
If you are interested in the wine, it can be found D'Vine Wine in Manitou.
