Church Women United prepare for 41st annual CROP sale

For 41 years Church Women United members have gathered for a Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty -- or CROP -- sale in Cape Girardeau. The women have seen the times change, but haven't allowed that to stop them from putting on the sale and luncheon. Profits from the event over the years have gone toward the purchase of livestock, tools, seeds, veterinary supplies, wells, windmills and reforestation in needy countries.

The Church Women United's 41st annual CROP Sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, and the luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Dolly Jewel, co-coordinator of this year's event, has been involved in the sale since its inception. She said the sale started out in the parking lot of St. Mary's.

"People in the community would plant extra rows in their gardens and donate what grew from them," Jewel said. "It was kind of a little farmers market."

"It was small -- just a few of us," said Meta Siemers, a former president of Church Women United who has been with the group from the sale's beginning. "Everybody used to garden back then, but now people don't garden like they used to."

Gradually, there has been less produce and more baked goods for sale, she said. She said the sale profits have grown from $67.55 in 1970 to $1,500 in 2009.

The sale and luncheon Friday will take place in the air-conditioned Family Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church.

"Outside at St. Mary's we were always fighting the weather," Jewel said. She said more than 20 people signed up to bring foodstuffs at the last Church Women United board meeting.

The profit from this year's luncheon and sale will go to FISH, the Jackson Food Pantry, Love INC., Teen Challenge, the Family Resource Center, the Church World Service Heifer Project and a scholarship to the Career and Technology Center.

"The $500 scholarship is for a woman trying to better herself," Jewel said. "We like to zero in on the LPN program."

She said funds raised in the past have bought cows, goats, chickens and rabbits through the heifer project. Livestock is given to poverty-stricken people internationally with the intention that the animals' offspring will be shared in the community.

For the first time, the Teen Challenge choir will sing at the luncheon, Jewel said. She said the choir will help with food service and cleanup.

The luncheon will include chicken pasta salad, fresh baked bread and apple butter, desserts and coffee, tea or lemonade. Tickets are $5.

jhargraves@semissourian.com

388-3620

Pertinent address:

320 N. Ellis St., Cape Girardeau Mo., 63701