Community organizes benefit dinner for Susie of the Flower Garden

Michael Helton (1951 – 2016)

Over the years the late Mike Helton and Susie Bachert of the Flower Garden here in Manchester have provided exquisite floral designs for many family celebrations, funerals, proms, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and other events. They have also provided donations of floral arrangements for the Commuity Resource Center’s Volunteer Recognition Banquet, Manchester Senior Citizens, Fair, Prom Queen, Manchester Alumni Banquet, and other more. On December 21, 2016 Manchester lost Mike Helton.

Rev’d Dr. David Williams stated, “Mike had suffered from declining health over these last several years; however that did not stop him from being at the Flower Garden most days, visiting with folks who stopped to check on him and to enjoy something that he was creating out of flowers and greenery.”

Since Mike’s passing, Bachert has continued the operation of the Flower Garden and has struggled to manage all of the bills that have come due to this change of life. “Members of our Manchester Community understood the magnitude of the bills that Susie faced with Mike’s health and his death,” Williams continued. “A small group of community members gathered together and received permission from Susie to have a benefit dinner to assist her and to keep the Flower Garden right here in Manchester! A letter was sent to 100 community businesses and organizations appealing to them for a donation to sponsor the dinner [the first goal] and further to help provide a fund to assist in this endeavor.”

The Manchester Community is now invited to join in this endeavor by enjoying a Benefit Roast Beef Dinner on Wednesday, March 22 from 4:30 to 7 pm at the Emanuel United Church of Christ, either by dining in or by taking advantage of the Drive Thru setup on West Main Street in front of the church. The menu will include roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, chunky apple sauce with cinnamon, roll, butter, and dessert. The requested donation for dinner will be $10.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.