Church volunteer at 495,000 doughnuts and counting
Derry demonstrates the technique for putting dough into the Our Lady of the Lake’s automatic doughnut machine.
If you have ever eaten a mini doughnut at the Our Lady of the Lake’s Incredible Festival, chances are church member Alice Derry made it.
That’s because she has made exactly 495,012 mini doughnuts at church functions and counting. Derry has been making doughnuts for charities involving the church since 1962, when she was asked by a church leader to provide a record of the number of doughnuts sold.
Derry continued that tradition every year in her black handheld notebook, and in 2012 she is inching her way towards the 500,000 mark of doughnuts made.
“We were at 495,000 before we started,” she said of the number of doughnuts made before the incredible festival. “I figured we will sell between 130 and 140 dozen.”
That means Derry likely has made over 496,500 doughnuts after last weekend’s incredible festival.
“It feels wonderful that they have been eating them after all this time,” said Derry about the doughnuts. “We start our baking at five in the morning.”
Bob Blake, who plays a role in planning the Incredible Festival as one of the Incredible Festival chairs, said Derry is always coming up with new ideas in food.
“A few years ago, she said ‘what if we do doughnut holes on a stick?’” he said. “She doesn’t stop thinking.”
Derry said that over the years, the method of making the doughnuts has changed. They first hand cut and rolled the doughnuts, but eventually they were given a manual machine to help with the work. Recently, they were given an automatic machine, making them faster than ever.
The mix has also changed. The church used the same doughnut mix for over 40 years until a Belgium company bought their supply company, forcing them to find a new mix.
These changes have not stopped Derry from making doughnuts for Our Lady of the Lake.
“It’s been a real good project, over a long time,” said Derry.
Cathy Schmidt, Kathy Putt and Audrey Schultz pose with Alice Derry, who is on the right holding the bucket of doughnut mix. They were a part of the doughnut making crew this year for the Incredible Festival. (Photos by Blaze Fugina)
That’s my grandma! She is fabulous and taught me everything I need to know about working had for my community, and of course cooking. Thanks for doing a story about her, she’s an amazing lady.
My grandma as well. A truly inspirational lady that has always loved to cook! She makes the best food and her thanksgiving dinner is the greatest! She has motivated me to grow my own vegetables in my backyard. Alice is the kindest and sweetest grandma out there. She is always giving back to make the world a better place for all the people that are in need. Please buy her donut holes, they are very tasty. I should know, I grew up on them!