The Apple Butter Gang at Hardy United Methodist Church (UMC) is at it again as the ladies from UMC are celebrating yet another year of creating jars of apple butter to be sold as a fundraiser for missions.
Since 1997, once a year, the ladies of the church, along with a few recruits from the men’s side gather to create a unique treat, which is no small feat.
The smell of cinnamon and apples wafts from the fellowship hall out onto the street and once inside, the team can be seen working like a well oiled machine.
Whether it’s peelers, choppers, boilers or the canning team, it takes a small village to produce the near 800 pints made each year.
In the early days, the team started with 20 bushels of apples and spent the next three days making jars.
Growing in popularity, volunteer Valerie Bathrick noted that there has never been a jar left since the inception of the project.
“The volunteers have so much fun laughing and telling stories. My husband Dave and I decided to join in and we all joked saying ‘Thank God it’s Friday’ when we are finished. Buddy Lynn gave us a new saying TGWSAY ‘Thank God We Survived Another Year’,” Bathrick said.
All joking aside, the benefits to the church and those served through the sale of the butter is vast.
“When Covid hit, we kept on cooking but reduced the amount of pints to 400 and started selling by per-order.” Bathrick said.
Selling both pints and half pints, pre orders are currently being accepted.
“We want to thank everyone for the donations. For jars, ingredients and money and for volunteering to make another successful year. We couldn’t do it without you,” Bathrick said.
The cost of a pint is $7 and half-pints is $4.
To place an order, contact Valerie at 870-710-2439, Pene at 870-847-0148 or Margeret at 870-847-2552.
Pickup will be held Sept. 15 and 16 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the church.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
