WEST PITTSTON — The Guinness Book of World Records’ title of largest rabbit belongs to a 4-foot-3-inch Flemish giant named Darius. Now, there’s a new bunny in the Wyoming Valley giving Darius a run for his carrots.
West Pittston ice cream parlor and candy shop Ballyhoo is raffling off a chocolate bunny that stands 3 feet tall and weighs in at 18 pounds. Each ticket sold benefits Greater Pittston Kids Clothes Closet, a charitable arm of St. John’s the Evangelist Church in Pittston that provides clothing to needy children.
Ballyhoo owner Valarie Shultz said she and her husband Robert, both members of St. John’s the Evangelist, wanted to do their part.
“They have so many vocations that they do for the Greater Pittston community and we wanted to help,” Valarie said. “They get a lot of donations, but they still need money for odd sizes.”
Valaria and Robert chose to help the same way they make their living: candy. The Schultzs first encountered the impressively tall chocolate bunny when placing an order with their distributor. Valarie said she saw its potential and knew they had to have it.
“I thought that would get a lot of attention and be an easy thing to help raise money,” she said.
Tickets to win the bunny are $1 each and may be purchased at the shop’s 128 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston location from 2 to 10 p.m. every day except Tuesday. Tickets may also be purchased online at GoFundMe.com by searching “Easter Bunny Fundraiser.”
Valarie set a goal of $500 and, as of this writing, $385 has been raised. Donations may be made until the winning ticket is drawn the night of April 13.
Ballyhoo is still in the midst of its largest fundraiser yet, but Valarie is already looking for another opportunity to give.
“We really enjoy helping the Greater Pittston community, so if there’s any way we can help any cause, just let us know,” she said. “It’s how we get involved in the community.”
