First Baptist Church hosting fundraising event

The First Baptist Church in Ironton opened its Faith and Fitness Center on Aug.1, 2009. Since then, the center has been a hosting activities for all ages in the community, and the church is hosting a fundraiser to help offset the costs.

The “Land of 10,000 Cookies” premiered last year, and this year is expected to bring even more success. From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at the Faith and Fitness Center at 400 Vernon Street, freshly baked cookies will be sold at a cost of $7 per pound.

Twila Cartmell is one of the bakers and will be working at the event also. She explained how it will work.

“When the building opens, you can come in the door, get a box, choosing the size that you want, and you get a glove,” Cartmell said. “You walk through all the tables and choose what cookies you want and we weigh them and you pay per pound.”

Last year, there were 78 different types of cookies to choose from, made by more than 30 members, and more than 30 have signed up to help this year. Cartmell said there will be a big selection made by great bakers.

“Church women always seem to put out the best food,” Cartmell laughed. “A lot of good cookie bakers who have been doing it for years. There will be everything imaginable.”

Christmas music will be played throughout the day, and there will also be a separate table with homemade candy, discount cards and cookbooks for sale.

For people who can’t make it to the cookie sale, the church will deliver cookies to them. There are order forms that can be obtained from the church, or they can call Jenny Mays at (740) 550-1403, or e-mail her at jennymays1@gmail.com.

“You just simply say if you want a small medium or large tray and we hand pick them and deliver them,” Cartmell said. “We can deliver them as gifts too. Just give us the address and the check and we’ll deliver them.”

The prices for delivered orders is $5 for a small tin or box of cookies, $20 for a medium holiday tray and $35 for a large holiday tray. Orders can be received until Dec. 11.

The Faith and Fitness Center hosts Upward basketball and cheerleading, is open to the public for walking weekday mornings from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., hosts after-school programs once a week, has a lunch program for senior citizens during the summer and many other activities.

“It is very much used for the entire community,” Cartmell said.