KALAHEO — When doors to the Ladies Altar Society of Holy Cross Church open Saturday morning, there will be the results of two recipes working.
“We’ll have Glenda Vierra’s recipe that has been used since she started baking for the society back in 2005,” said Donna Miller, president of the Ladies Altar Society. “But Glenda is getting on, and this year we’re lucky that Jonette Vidinha joined the society. She brings her grandmother Helen’s recipe, and, this year, is being mentored by Glenda. Hopefully she can learn the ins and outs of baking and Glenda can just sit back next year.”
The traditionally baked sweet rolls are one of the biggest attractions to the bazaar that usually has lines forming well before the 7 a.m. opening.
“Every year I see the people standing in line,” Miller said. “But 7 a.m. is 7 a.m., and even if I feel bad for some of those standing in line, we will honor the opening.”
The Ladies Altar Society of Holy Cross Church bazaar runs until noon, featuring baked goods, crafts, plants, vegetables and fresh fruits.
“There is always something new,” Miller said. “We never know what the members are going to bake, but it’s always good because the baked goods always sell out. Some members harvest vegetables from their gardens, and others bring in fresh fruit. Even the craft items have new items because we never know what the members are going to create.”
One of the new features will be Portuguese bean soup. There will also be a white elephant sale, drawings for quilts made by the ladies in the parish, and gift baskets.
The bazaar is the only fundraiser hosted by the Ladies Altar Society. Proceeds support programs at St. Theresa School and the church.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” Miller said. “My mother would’ve been 100 this year, and she was doing it. I joined the altar society because she was part of it. A lot of the members also joined because their mothers were members. This is generations old.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
