FVH Auxiliary stirs up sweets for Saturday sale

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Betty Dutcher (left) checks on the caramel-bagging progress of volunteers Elvira Nielsen, Julie Hopkins, Audrey Kindwall and Jan Ernst. They were among a large number of auxiliary members and volunteers wrapping caramels and sacking candy for the 23rd Annual Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary Goodie Sale set for Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

A Christmastime tradition, the 23rd Annual Holiday Goodie Sale hosted by Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary will be 8 a.m to noon Saturday at the hospital's lower level Conference Center.

The kettles have been bubbling at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars as batch after batch of chocolate fudge, white fudge, caramels and peanut clusters are prepared for the sale.

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

"We've made more of everything this year," said Dutcher.

That means 25 more batches of caramels, 11 more batches of peanut clusters, and five batches of both chocolate fudge and white fudge.

The candy-making process began Monday.

More than 75 volunteers were on hand Tuesday morning wrapping up the last of the caramels.

Pearl Schnepf and Therese Freking were among the number of first-year volunteer wrappers who answered a call for auxiliary members to come and help.

"It's a nice way to get out and visit with others," said Schnepf.

"You get to meet new people," added Freking, who has been an auxiliary member for years.

Volunteer Sally Schrunk added, "It's good to get a lot of people involved." She's been wrapping for several years.

"I look forward to coming and helping," said Jan Ernst, another volunteer.

The four women, along with Val Grant and Pat French, wrapped dozens of caramels during the morning.

Helen Mayrose has been an auxiliary volunteer since the organization began.

"I've done this a lot of years," she said of helping with the candy preparation. "We always do good with the goodie sale."

Proceeds from this year's Goodie Sale will be donated to the hospital for the surgery department for orthopaedic equipment.

Dutcher appreciates all the volunteers who come to help.

"We'll be working here at the church through Thursday packaging the candy in bags and preparing plates," she said.

Friday the operation moves to the hospital in preparation for Saturday's sale.

While the deadline for pre-paid orders was Nov. 30, Dutcher said she will still take orders for candy plates and bags. To order, call her at the church, 546-6624, or 548-4229.

Available are 3-pound and 1-pound assorted candy plates with peanut cluster, caramels, chocolate and white fudge; 1-pound bags/plates of peanut clusters, chocolate fudge, white fudge and caramels; and half-pound and quarter-pound bags of caramels.

Orders may be picked up 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the hospital's Conference Center or Saturday morning during the sale.

In addition to the candy, the auxiliary relies on area residents to provide a variety of holiday baked goods and treats to be sold at the Goodie Sale.

Those items may be dropped of Friday between 4 and 7 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the coffee pot will be on and the hospital's famous hot, caramel rolls will be ready and waiting for shoppers who need to energize for the busy day.

Also on sale will be items from the hospital's gift shop, and raffle tickets for a set of five quilted table runners and coordinating centerpieces.

Raffle tickets are also available at the hospital Gift Shop, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The drawing will be held at noon Saturday.