MANSFIELD — The homemade foods for sale at St. Peter’s Bake Sale take weeks to prepare, but they sell out in hours.
Parishioners and other volunteers have been gathering in the Catholic parish’s cafeteria for weeks, preparing thousands of sweet treats and savory favorites for the beloved fundraiser.
That means scooping hundreds of cookies and dicing several 50-pound bags of onions.
“You have to take breaks for a few days just to recuperate,” said Ann Brown, one of the lead bakers. “You’re talking about 10 to 12 hour days of heavy lifting.”
Traditional favorites will be for sale include pirogies, cabbage rolls, potica, potato salad and braided bread. Sweeter items include butter rings, cookies and chocolate candies.
Many of the recipes are favorites churchgoers inherited from their parents and grandparents, reflecting the immigrant cultures that once made up St. Peter’s congregation.
“These are women who have been doing it for years,” said Eileen Tomsich, one of several volunteer cooks and bakers. “It’s family recipes that people don’t take the time to make anymore.
“Ann gets nothing but the best ingredients,” Tomsich added. “She goes all over to buy these ingredients and orders months ahead of time.”
Tomsich said the sale is typically two days, but will only be one this year — April 15 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“Last year, we sold out on the first day. We had to come over here and scramble and bake more stuff to have to sell on the second day,” Tomsich said.
Ready-to-eat items like cabbage rolls, cabbage and noodles, potato salad and cheesecake will also be sold during a sit-down lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Proceeds from the Easter Bake Sale go towards purchasing wine, hosts, and other liturgical items the church uses throughout the year. Only cash and checks are accepted.
All the food is made is volunteers.
“We’re always looking for more help,” Tomsich. “Some people are getting old, but we love it. We really do.”