The women of the Circle of Hope, First Lutheran Church, raise funds during Lent to help others in the fall.
The women observe Harvest Home Sunday in the autumn by purchasing food to be distributed to facilities and food banks in Blair County.
Fundraising efforts to buy the food begins months earlier when Circle of Hope, joined by several men of the congregation, make more than 1,000 candy Easter eggs in the church kitchen.
Article Photos
(Courtesy photo) Members of First Lutheran Church, 1401 12th Ave., prepare candy Easter eggs in the church’s kitchen. From left are (front): Deborah Thomas and Sue Berglund; back: Nancy Keller, Judy Clendenin, Joe Cignetti, Doris Reigh, Connie Leipold, Dale Wills, Donna Ritts, Fred Reigh and Bill Sauserman. The eggs are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at the church.
Three days of work are involved to make the four flavors of 3-ounce eggs (peanut butter, coconut cream, maple walnut and cherry nut). This year was the fifth year for the activity.
Eggs are being sold after the 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday church services. They also are available at the church office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Along with financial support from the North Blair Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the sale of the Easter eggs generated enough profits last year to deliver three pickup truckloads of food to the Altoona Food Bank.
In addition, food was donated to St. Vincent DePaul Food for Families Soup Kitchen, St. Leonard's Home and The Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg.
