Annual School Pie Auction Benefits Local Organizations
 Pies lined the table at the American Legion on Tuesday night. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There were winners aplenty at the Oh Be Thankful Pie Contest and Auction — along with plenty of pies.
The annual auction to benefit local food pantries and charitable organizations served up desserts from old-fashioned apple to creamy chocolate to tart cherry at the American Legion on Tuesday night.
Some 41 pies were entered in the contest, with more than a dozen judges picking their favorites. More than one pie — especially those made by Gabriel Abbott Memorial School Principal Heidi Dugal — picked up more than one ribbon.
Children from Clarksburg and Savoy schools, as well as Gabriel Abbott, entered pies. Judges included Mayor Richard Alcombright, Clarksburg Principal Linda Reardon, North Berkshire School Union Superintendent Jonathan Lev and Florida Fire Chief Michael Bedini.
Entrants brought one pie for sampling by judges and attendees and one pie to auction.
It was Dugal who started the sweet festivities nearly 14 years ago as a community service project. This year, it was also used to collect non-perishable food products for the Friendship Center Food Pantry in North Adams and the Berkshire Humane Society as a part of a Project 351 initiative by Makenzie Wright, Autumn Tynan and Tilly Brule in honor of Senior Master Sgt. Donald Wright, Spec. Michael DeMarsico and Sgt. Arthur Brule.
Auctioneers Roy Burdick and Harry LaGess pushed the participants to bid up their pie prices for a good cause. A cherry pie went for more than $40 and Dugal's prize-winning Red Sox World Series Triple-Decker cheesecake went for a princely $36. (Her white chocolate caramel pie and chocolate rasberry also won some ribbons.)
But all the pies were winners in that they are also helping fund the Gabriel Abbott School's apple and pumpkin pies for the American Legion's annual Christmas dinner. A 50/50 raffle and chinese auction of donated items from local businesses and residents were also used to raise funds.
Tags: auction, benefit, fundraiser,
