ASHLAND, Ky. — Hope’s Place, the regional children’s advocacy center for child victims of sexual abuse, will sponsor the 15th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday, March 23 at the Ashland Town Center Mall. Chocolate vendors will sell tastes of chocolate from local bakeries, restaurants and organizations. In addition to the opportunity to sample several varieties of chocolate specialties, Easter baskets will be on sale. The event will be from at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hope’s Place is seeking chocolate vendors and basket donations from the community to assist with this event. Any interested organization should contact Hope’s Place.

“This event is lively and fun, but more importantly, it helps provide support for our work here,” said Brandi Bayes, executive director. “The money raised allows us to continue to provide quality services to children and their non-offending caregivers who have been affected by sexual abuse.”

Hope’s Place provides medical exams, forensic interviews, counseling and advocacy services to children who have been sexually abused. In 2012, Hope’s Place served 346 alleged child victims of abuse and provided services to more than 650 non-offending caregivers and family members affected by the abuse. All of those services were offered at no cost to the victim or their family at Hope’s Place facility, located in downtown Ashland.

For more information about the Chocolate Extravaganza or to sign up to donate an Easter basket or to be a chocolate vendor, call Hope’s Place at (606) 325-4737 or email Bayes at Brandi@hopesplace.org.