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MITCHELL — First Lutheran Church in Mitchell has been celebrating Valentine’s Day in a sweet way — by baking and selling a wide variety of homemade treats. These goodies, crafted with love by church members, not only bring smiles to the community but also support the First Lutheran Post-Secondary Education Scholarship Fund, which has been helping local students pursue higher education since its inception.
The church’s Valentine’s bake sale, which has grown into an annual event, is a primary source of funding for the scholarship. All proceeds from the sale support students who are members of First Lutheran Church and are pursuing a technical college or university education.
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The scholarship, which was initially available only to students attending Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) colleges, was expanded in 2016 by a group of retired teachers — Gwenda Koch, Kathy Otterby, Joan Anderson and Sharon Scott — to include all graduates pursuing post-secondary education.
“We wanted to make sure that every member of our church, regardless of which college they attended, had the opportunity to receive financial support,” Anderson said.
To qualify, students must meet specific criteria, including being a member of First Lutheran Church, attending services regularly and being involved in church activities after confirmation.
“This scholarship is a great way for the church to invest in the future of our young people,” said Anderson. “It’s not just about the money; it’s about supporting our youth in their educational journeys and encouraging them to continue being active in the church community.”
The bake sale, which runs in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, has expanded beyond the church congregation over the years. What started as a small sale among church members has blossomed into a community-wide event, with church members now selling their homemade treats to the public.
This year, the bake sale features a range of heart-shaped delights, including sugar cookies, brownies, rice Krispies treats and cupcakes. Some of the fan-favorite items include a deluxe dozen frosted sugar cookies for $25, heart-shaped brownies for $10 and a special Super Bowl set of cookies featuring football and jersey shapes for $25.
“We started with just sugar cookies, but over time we’ve added so many different options, from Rice Krispies treats to cupcakes,” said Anderson, who, along with other volunteers, has been baking for the sale for years. “Each year, we get more creative and try to add new items to keep it exciting.”
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Brenda Mayer, the church’s chief sugar cookie baker, has spent hours in the kitchen preparing.
“I’ve mixed up 60 batches of sugar cookie dough this year,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it when we see how much money we can raise for the scholarship.”
Gary Mayer, Brenda’s husband, has taken the sales outreach to a whole new level.
“My coffee group was the backbone for my first sales. It just kind of spread from there,” Mayer said.
A longtime member of the church and active in the Mitchell community, Gary has worked tirelessly to spread the word.
“I’ve been around Mitchell for a long time and know a lot of people,” Mayer said. “I think the bake sale is such a great cause, so I wanted to help in any way I could.”
In addition to hanging up fliers in Mitchell, Gary expanded the sales area this year to include Parkston.
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To streamline the sales process, church office administrator Jodi Zastrow-Rasmussen created a pricing sheet that laid out all the treats, their descriptions, and their corresponding prices.
The scale of the operation is impressive and the outreach has proven successful. Last year, over 2,000 items were baked and sold, and none went to waste. Any unsold treats are repackaged into gift baskets and delivered to church shut-ins, spreading love and joy throughout the community.
Additional treats are distributed as random acts of kindness, including to Lynne Vermeulen, director of the First Lutheran Child Learning Center. Vermeulen incorporates the bake sale into her preschool curriculum, having older students measure and cut ribbons for packaging, turning it into a practical learning experience.
Pam Moke, a volunteer who has helped with the bake sale for the past two years, explained the enormity of the effort behind the sale.
“From about 15 bakers and decorators to the people packaging the goods, it’s a massive team effort to pull off this small, week-long business,” Moke said. “It’s amazing to see how everyone comes together. Everyone has a role to play, and it’s so rewarding to know that we’re helping students in our community while also having a great time together.”
The funds raised through the bake sale and other efforts have enabled the church to award scholarships to every applicant who met the deadline. Since 2016, 46 scholarships have been awarded with over $20,000 distributed to students in the community.
“This scholarship fund started with a generous donation, and we’ve been able to grow it thanks to the dedication of so many people,” Anderson said. “The bake sale has become an integral part of keeping the fund going, and it’s amazing to see the support from the congregation and the community.”
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For those interested in participating in the annual bake sale, a range of treats are available. Prices vary depending on the item, with many offerings priced around $5 to $25. The sale runs from noon to 6 p.m. Feb. 11-13, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
“Each year, the support from the church members and the community grows,” said Anderson. “It’s truly a labor of love, and we are so grateful for everyone who helps make the bake sale a success.”
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