Hospital Auxiliary candy makers, volunteers ready for Goodie Sale

Audrey Kindwall pours chopped dried apricots into her white fudge mixture, one of the many batches she stirred up Tuesday at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ kitchen for the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary's Goodie Sale. Auxiliary members and volunteers worked throughout this week preparing candy trays orders. [Click to enlarge]

Needs some Christmas candy or cookies to serve the family or guests and no time to prepare it?

Then come out to the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary's 22nd annual Holiday Goodie Sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, in the hospital's lower level Conference Center.

The auxiliary's candymakers have been busy this week making batches of chocolate fudge, white fudge, caramels and peanut clusters for the pre-ordered candy plates.

Area volunteers, including (from left) -- Ruth Brennan, Doris Rolfes and Marilyn Hoffman, wrapped hundreds of caramels Tuesday for the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary's Holiday Goodie Sale set for Saturday, Dec. 6. [Click to enlarge]

Betty Dutcher and Connie Toben are chairing the candy-making operation this year.

"We started Monday morning at 9 a.m. and starting cooking," said Dutcher Wednesday afternoon. "We still have some bagging and measuring left to do. We hope to be finished up Thursday and then begin deliveries."

According to Dutcher, 58 people sign the book when they came to help this year

Cutting batches of caramels takes a little muscle, as Dave Albert (left) and Darrell Vannatta find out Tuesday as they cut slabs of cooled caramel into pieces to be wrapped. There were several "cutting crews" helping the candy makers. [Click to enlarge]

"We gave a call that we needed more people to help this year and they came out. Park Place Estates brought some residents over too, and that helped," said Dutcher.

The days are full from measuring ingredients, stirring bubbling pots of fudge and caramel, to preparing pans for the candy to cool in and then cutting before wrapping and packaging.

Candy not pre-ordered will also be available for sale Saturday.

A little laughter goes a long way when helping to prepare candy trays for Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary's annual Goodie Sale. Having fun while wrapping caramels are (from left) -- Ruth Kenaley, Helen Mayrose, Glenda Wiener, Delores Vannatta and Joan Vondrak. [Click to enlarge]

The coffee pot will be on and dozens of the hospital's hot, caramel rolls will be ready and waiting for goodie shoppers on Saturday morning.

"Come out and have breakfast with us," said Kathy Bartelli, auxiliary president. Jody Adler is serving as chair of this year's Holiday Goodie Sale.

The auxiliary relies on the area's good cooks to supply baked goods for the Goodie Sale.

"Those donations of baked goods are a very important part of our Goodie Sale and provide a variety of holiday specialities to purchase," said Bartelli.

Area residents donating baked goods to the sale are asked to bring to the lower level Conference Center between 4 and 7 p.m Friday, or 7:30 and 8 a.m. Saturday.

There will also be a number of holiday gift items available for sale.

Getting together to wrap caramels also means good fellowship and fun. Surrounded by their trays of caramels to be wrapped are (from left) -- Florence Heimgartner, Ruth Farley, Shirley Timmins, Mary Lane, Donna Kewley and Vi Schroeder. [Click to enlarge]

The auxiliary has also been selling raffle tickets for the "Let Us Entertain You" gift basket. Tickets for the basket are still available at the hospital gift shop and will be on sale Saturday morning until noon.

"The drawing for the gift basket will be held at the close of the Goodie Sale," said Bartelli. The gift basket replaces the quilt raffle which has been conducted for several years.

Proceeds from the Goodie Sale and raffle will be put toward the remodeling of the registration area at the hospital.