Once a year, at 8 a.m., the Cascade Eagles Pathfinders of North Cascade Church in Burlington, Wash., gather together to raise funds by making apple pies.
The apple pie fundraiser started in 2010 as a more efficient way to help raise funds to attend the International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wis., which happens once every five years.
“Prior to this, we had been doing a variety of fundraisers that were bringing in some money but required a lot of days and time,” says Kristie Schmidt, club co-leader. “One of our staff members, Kathy West, has a sister in Idaho who has been doing the Apple Pie Make fundraiser to raise funds for their local school’s ski program. Kathy got all the information from her sister, and we started our annual Apple Pie Make seven years ago.”
Ingredients and supplies are mostly donated from families, though there are some overhead costs to purchase bins of apples and pay for transportation to pick up the apples.
“One Sunday a year we ask for a one-day commitment from our Pathfinders, staff, parents, family and friends to come out and help us assemble high-quality apple pies that people can take home and bake right away or freeze for at least one year,” Schmidt says.
“Parents, Pathfinders, staff and church members show up at 8 a.m., and we begin the process [of making pies,]” Jeremy Schmidt says.
The first year they had a goal of 150 pies and made more than 180. Since then the club has increased the amount of pies every year and have reached their goals.
“This year we did not cap sales, but our goal was 750. We ended up making 673 pies,” says Jeremy Schmidt, club co-leader. “This year our fundraiser brought in about $10,200. We can only thank Jesus and our supporters.”
Interested in finding out how you can start up a fundraiser like the Apple Pie Make? Cascade Eagles Pathfinders are willing to share the secrets. “These Pathfinders are getting so good and efficient,” says Jeremy, “who knows how many we can make next year."
Cascade Eagles Pathfinders in Burlington made more than 670 pies for their seventh annual Apple Pie Make Fundraiser.
