The Coupeville United Methodist Church will be holding its annual Strawberry Social 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 28.

Local strawberries are piled onto your choice of waffles, shortcake or ice cream and topped with whipped cream. The treat is accompanied by a hot or cold beverage. The price is $7, $5 for half orders, and take-out orders are welcomed.

Last year, the church ordered 240 pounds of strawberries for the event.

The Strawberry Social is an annual tradition that started in 1914.

In “Recollections of Early Days on Whidbey Island,” Flora Augusta Pearson Engle said, “For over 30 years there was but one church on the island and during that time we were all good Methodists, every man giving somewhat of his substances towards the minister’s salary and the women every year giving a strawberry festival to eke out the amount.”

The strawberries no longer pay for the salary of the minister, but are used by the church’s missions committee to support outreach.

Proceeds from last year’s Strawberry Social were used to support two orphanages, two educators and a medical relief pilot in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Supplies were also purchased for a medical mission to remote areas of the Amazon River in Brazil.

To learn more about the Social and other activities of the Coupeville United Methodist Church, contact the office at 608 N. Main Street, 678-4256.