A good idea worth sharing

When you are going to steal an idea, steal a good one.

Diane Braun serves up more hot spuds.

When Wayne and Diane Braun attended an Elysian church fundraiser years ago, they discussed the novel idea of a baked potato dinner. Not many of them around, and a somewhat easy undertaking. That was seven years ago, and today, the LeCenter United Methodist Church is serving up spuds with all the fixings in their sixth year, raising money for their church and community and doing the Lord’s work all at the same time.

There are many stalwart volunteers at their church, but its Diane and LeAnn Jones who head of the fund-raising committee, something the previous pastor assigned to them. Noticing their dedication and determination, he knew how important to have strong leaders.

“We have a great team of people at this church,” said Diane. “We all enjoy doing it and seeing the results of our work.” Their results are no secret, as many people in LeCenter have benefitted from their generosity. Maybe a person coming to town doesn’t have much food, not enough money for gas or just down on their luck temporarily. Time in and time out it’s the local United Methodist church passing along a grocery or gas card. “It’s our belief to help out others,” added LeAnn, who recalled helping a family with children get beds and other needs.

And it all begins with a hot potato.

Whether it’s chili or turkey and gravy to start out the piling on procedure, a person can add broccoli, ham, green or black olives, mushrooms, cheese or sour cream - all of them. Scooping for a side dish is encouraged, but when you mash it all up, it warms the tummy something yummy!

Add coleslaw and an assortment of bars or cookies (including gluten-free) and no one goes away dissatisfied. And before or after the meal, three tables of silent auction items await for anyone looking for a good deal and another way to help the community with their donation. Don Hoffman mans the tables and is the answer man there, while Mary Frank minded the till at the front door. So many more volunteers filled take-out orders at a separate station upstairs and jumped into their battle station when it looked like another order needed filling.

Volunteers:, back row: Jenn Jones, LeAnn Jones,
Lynnette Hoffman;front: Sandy Parks, Diane Braun,
Gerry Zimmerman

Meanwhile, Wayne is scooping up the potato and slicing it up for hungry goers, while kitchen helpers attend to food-related duties. In all, the energetic bunch served up 20 takeouts and over 80 taters downstairs - a good turnout indeed, in fact, more than the last two years!

All food is donated and signup sheets passed around weeks before the event. This year the calls to businesses for silent auction items came later than usual but the merchants from LeCenter, St. Peter, New Prague, LeSueur and Montgomery generously came through. It’s the likes of businesses like Evie’s Soups and More and Walt’s Hook, Line and Sinker or the donation of bags of yellow cherry tomatoes that keep the fund-raiser going.

Wayne Braun prepares
potatoes for eating

None of the food goes to waste. The first Monday of each month there is a community dinner at the church, so the women will cut up and fry up the potatoes and put out the fixin’s. Sunday services have coffee and treats so the sweets have a place to go.

The church service averages 30 parishioners each Sunday, but their generous ways touch the community. They are proudly known for their charity, “I think the impact of people in need in the community has been substantial and we try to help all we can,” added LeAnn. Pastor Amy Jo Bur, new in the last year, is proud of the impact her lambs have. “It’s amazing how they serve the church and town.”

Amy Jo hails from Michigan and moved from Georgia last year with her husband. Her diverse background and intellect, including a study under Desmond Tutu (South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop), helps lead the church for the future. No one outhustles the UM women’s group in town!  Oh, there is a garage sale in the spring and the men’s chicken and biscuit dinner early in the year as well, pretty much manned by the same volunteers. But it’s not often a church group has 94 year olds wanting to return to help. “Ruth Frederickson didn’t want to retire at 88 but we kind of told her she’s put in her time, it’s OK to just come and enjoy,” said Diane. “Another lady was 94 last year and we told her she didn’t have to work. But that’s our mission, to serve and that’s what they want to do.”

This year’s money is earmarked for local help, but it may be time to divert funds to an air conditioner in the office and narthex, along with roof help in the future. Whatever it might be, this congregation is ready for the challenge.

“I’m so thankful for my workers,” said LeAnn. “Everyone has a talent and wants to do what they can to help. We are all good friends and we do the fund-raisers together. I’m 75 years old now, and not moving as fast as I used to, but Diane and I were nominated to lead, so that’s what we try to do.”

No Diane, many people try, you and LeAnn succeed!

Yummy Calendar:

Saturday, Oct. 12 - Pine River First Lutheran Church Lutefisk Dinner, 3:30-7:30

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Blooming Prairie First Lutheran Church Lutefisk Dinner, 4:30-7:30

Friday, Oct. 25, Buffalo's Zion Lutheran Church, Lutefisk Dinner, 4:30-7

Sunday, Oct. 27 - Chili Luncheon at Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato, 10:30-12:30