Written by Residents Kate Ranieri & Betsy Brommer
In mid-September, calls went out to residents who donated recipes for Sweet Indulgences, the collection of cookie recipes from the Moravian Village of Bethlehem community.
In response to the administration’s call for participants to the Moravian Village 3rd Annual Charity Fair, we’re hosting a table for the Sweet Indulgences Bake Sale to be held
October 25.
Our charity of choice was to raise funds that improve the lives of and provide comfort to the residents of Moravian Village. So, we expanded the request for donations from all residents and staff. The response was amazing. We filled two very long tables with a bounty of goodies. We also learned a few things about our neighbors and staff.
1. Well before the opening of the sale and before we were officially open for business, we had a small swarm of cookie peepers. The temptation must have been overwhelming.
2. When faced with a wide array of baked goods, many found that life is hard sometimes when tasked with delicious choices.
3. A couple of residents and staff asked for kiffles but no one baked any for the sale. Next year, maybe someone will bake some. Hint, hint, hint.
4. Some couples quibbled over who got to make decisions about which sweets to purchase. Nothing serious, just “I can do this myself” sort of thing.
5. The brownie cups with chocolate peanut butter frosting, an experiment, sold out quickly. Maybe it was because they had googly eyes on top.
6. The other hugely popular treat was the Whoopie pies made from an old family recipe. According, to Tracy Patton and her mother, resident Vicky, they knew these treats as
Gobs. Apparently, the term “gob” is used primarily in western Pennsylvania, while the name “whoopie pie” is more common in other areas like New England. Now we know.
7. Our major supporters during our bake sale were staffers supreme, Kara and Katelyn who expertly assisted us with creating labels and, when we needed more space, setting up extra tables with tablecloths. Plus, they were a lot of fun.
8. Customers with nut allergies or who observed a gluten free diet, found at least one or two things that met their needs and satisfied their sweet tooth.
9. A few residents ate their purchases right away. Then they returned for more. It’s like the old saying, “You can’t get enough of a good thing.”
10. For those who were looking for gifts or, perhaps, looking to make their own sweets, we also sold copies of Sweet Indulgences, the community cookie book.
All told, the afternoon charity event was a great time to meet and greet our neighbors, visiting families, and many staff members. The modest profits raised will be used to benefit the lives of our residents. We share our gratitude and thanks to resident bakers Martha, Nancy, Judy, Barbara, Andrea, Beth, Kara, and Barb who made the event successful