Ellendale parish holds a sweet fundraiser

By Kenny Keane, Globe staff writer
Posted Oct. 3, 2002

ELLENDALE - If you happen to be driving along K-22 on a Wednesday between the months of August and November, don't be surprised if the smell of apples makes its way to your nose as you pass by St. Joseph Church of Ellendale.

Since 1989, a handful of parishioners, mostly female, have volunteered during the above-mentioned time to make apple pies. All told, they've made almost 12,000 pies to this point, and they are projecting that about 900 more will be made this year.

Ann DeRocher, a member of St. Joseph parish, presented the idea to fellow parishioners to make these pies, sell them and then use the proceeds to help the parish in paying bills. She got the idea from Father James Bruch, a former pastor at St. Joseph's, who at the time had already started this fundraising effort at Holy Family Church in Lidderdale.

"They did it, and it was such a good fundraiser. So we decided to try it," DeRocher said. "We take orders and have people call us year after year. Then when we think we have the orders filled, we'll make one more batch to have in our freezers for people in the parish who want them."

She said that two other parishioners, Eldon and Mildred Ruden spearheaded the effort by donating the first freezer used to store the apple pies, seeing that additional freezers were donated and just making sure the volunteers had everything they needed to make this effort possible.

"It's a feeling of doing something for your parish," Eldon Ruden said. "The people here are doing it to help their parish."

Each Wednesday when the pies are made, volunteers will come in the morning to peel the apples. For the most part, the individuals who help have remained constant. In addition to the Rudens, the morning crew includes: Barb Foley, Eileen Kovarna, Madonna Hoefling, Lila Thompson and Carol Schoenherr.

Foley's in-laws, Gordon and Jean, have assisted most recently by supplying the apples for the pies. In the beginning, the apples were donated by Leo and Evelyn Woll, who assisted with the effort up until about two years ago when their health failed. The workers used to peel the apples at their home and then bring them to the church to make the pies.

After that, they got the apples from a variety of sources, including orchards in LeMars and Mondamin, among others, before turning to the Foleys.

On Wednesday afternoons, another crew of volunteers arrive in the church basement to make the pies. Along with DeRocher, these volunteers include: Joan Yeoger, Ellen Ritz, Virginia Rohmiller, Katherine Banks, Erma Hecht, Betty Pridie, Dee Saulsbury, Phil Hoffman, Catherine Saulsbury, Marlene Pridie and Vae Ream.

For those who are not able to volunteer their time peeling or making the pies, Mildred Ruden said there are other ways to help. Some people have donated ingredients, such as Dee Saulsbury, who donated all of the flour and sugar this year, in addition to working.

However, according to Father Robert Waters, pastor of St. Joseph Church, the idea has come up recently to consider changing the time to the evenings so that those parishioners who work during the day can be involved with this effort. Either way though, he said this project is very good for the parish.

"There should be changes considered so the whole parish could be involved," Father Waters said. "I feel that it's been an enormous amount of work. It's a very big act of generosity."

Aside from filling the orders that come in, the pies are also sold at an annual parish roast beef supper. The pies were originally sold for $4 each, but have risen over time to $5 at one point and now are selling for $6. Eldon Ruden said that approximately 200 pies are sold each year at the dinner, with a total of about $3,000 brought in by the annual supper. Meanwhile, the pie sales each year average about $6,000, making that the parish's most lucrative fundraiser.

Not only do the pies generate a good amount of money, but they also have seen their way to several states throughout the country. Aside from the tri-state area, the pies have made it as far as Colorado, Texas and California, with parishioners sending them to family members or delivering them during a visit.

No matter how much money is made or how far these pies travel, the consensus among the volunteers seems to be that the time spent working with one another makes it all worth while.

"I think it's just nice that we all get together," DeRocher said. "It's just a lot of good fellowship among the women. We have a good time doing it."