ASHLAND - Daffodils will be missing from Kathy Glessner's Ashland garage next year.
It will be the first time in 32 years the spring flowers won't be awaiting distribution by members of the Mu Zeta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a social service organization, as part of the American Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Days.
Glessner is a former member of the sorority who provides her garage for the effort. However, the cancer society decided to end the program earlier this year to focus on other events.
So the 2013 distribution will be the finale.
"It's tradition. It's memory," said Valarie Hornberger, a member of the nine-member chapter.
Seven of those women, all from Ashland, braved cold, snowy weather Monday afternoon to load the flower of spring into the back of a vehicle. They had 350 daffodils - seven boxes each containing 50 flowers - to deliver by today. The daffodils are $10 for a bunch and have been a reliable fundraiser for the ACS.
The Mu Zeta Chapter formed in 1979 and shortly thereafter was contacted by Mary Sitcoske, Pottsville, a volunteer with the local Schuylkill County ACS division, about whether they wanted to participate in selling daffodils for the annual Daffodil Days.
The Mu Zeta women have been selling the daffodils ever since.
A letter dated March 26, 1981, Nancy Schlitzer, that year's Daffodil Days chairwoman, and Linda D. Humphrey, ACS unit executive, thanked the sorority its help: "With your help we were able to raise approximately $2,000 for research, education, and service to cancer patients," they said in a letter.
Hornberger said selling daffodils in the county started 36 years ago.
Last year, the sorority raised $5,304 for the cancer unit. Some sorority members also give the flowers away to those battling cancer.
Hornberger said all of the women have known someone who has had to confront the disease.
Margaret Bernosky, 56, said the group offers the women a chance to socialize and help others with various fundraising efforts. They have given money to the Ashland Public Library and other worthy causes, she said.
"I think it's very sad because at the very end of the winter it gives you a lift to see these daffodils blooming on your windowsill," Bernosky said regarding the discontinuance of Daffodil Days.
Still, Barbara Hoffman, added, she understands why the program is ending, although that doesn't make it any easier for the longtime volunteers.
Hoffman is a past member of the sorority but isn't now due to other obligations. But she still participates in the Daffodil Days fundraiser.
Her sister, she said, died of Ewing's Sarcoma, a bone cancer, when she was 30.
"After my sister had cancer, I felt a devotion to it," she said of the annual fundraiser.
"We love the American Cancer Society and we know they do good things," sorority member Kathie Schreck, 52, said.
The women also wanted to thank those who have ordered the flowers or did their part in providing a location where people could sign up for daffodils.
Those who wish to buy daffodils may do so at the following locations in Schuylkill County: Fairlane Village mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday; Redner's Markets, Schuylkill Haven and Hegins, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Saturday. Boyd's Bears from the ACS also are available at those sites.