Durham community comes together to help others in need

Durham, NS – Good things happen when a community comes together.

A large crowd of  residents from Durham, Alma, Green Hill and surrounding areas gathered at the Durham Presbyterian Church Hall Friday evening and Saturday morning to assemble 700 apple pies in an effort to raise money for families in need.

“It only works because of the people who are here,” said Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker who was part of the apple pie event which was coordinated by the Durham Men’s Club, but involved, men, women and children from throughout the community helping to assemble the uncooked pies. 

It was finely tuned operation with 45 people having specific tasks that included cutting the dough, peeling the apples and packaging.   Participants ranged in age from six to 91 years old.   The pies were pre-sold and either picked up by customers at the hall by noon or delivered to those who couldn’t make the trip in to Durham.  Money raised is going back into the community.

Warden Parker said the club has a good working relationship with the schools who can identify families in need while other funding goes to the Daybreak Prison Ministry.

“This brings money to the communities and it is a community effort with everyone working together,” he said.

This is the fourth year the pie-making event has taken place in Durham and the production line is getting fined tuned each year.  The men’s club recently purchased a dough sheeter which speeds up production while apple peelers are borrowed from members of the community so no one has to hand peel any of the fruit.

At the end of the day, volunteers were covered in flour and smelled like apples, but fulfilled by a hard day’s work.