MARSHALL - Pie had to be wiped off faces and it might never completely come out of the clothes, but contestants and observers got into the pie eating spirit Saturday at Western Community Action and raised $4,000 for the Kitchen Table food shelf so far, said Allan Bakke, director of Big Buddies, one of the programs WCA supports.
"I'm a real believer in Western Community Action and the food shelf and all the good work they do," said Judge George Harrelson, one of the pie eaters. "I'm on the board because it does so much good. It's a pleasure to help."
Harrelson and 11 others dug into the pumpkin pies donated by Schwan, competing in four heats of three each. The contestants couldn't use utensils or even their own hands, which left them two choices: dive in face-first or have some help.
"If they want to be daintier, they can have someone feed it to them, but the person feeding it to them has to be blindfolded," said Bakke.
Winners were determined by how little pie was left after what remained was weighed.
John Fitzgerald, executive director of WCA, won the first heat. Ruth Ascher won the second heat. Robert Fenske won the third heat and Dr. Paul McHenry won the fourth heat.
"It was suggested to me it would be a nice way for the community to get to know me since I'm new in town," McHenry said. "Hunger is not something we should see in the United States."
Yet it is something that is becoming more prevalent here, said Angela Larson, Community and Family Support Director, who spoke to the audience between heats about Kitchen Table.
"We average 50 families a day. As many as 70 in a day," Larson said. "It used to be 30 in a day was a busy day."
Items they always need include rice, pasta, canned meat and fruit, boxed dinners and all baby items, Larson said. They get food from Second Harvest-Heartland Food Bank; TEFAP, The Emergency Food Assistance Program; food rescue where stores donate food like day-old bread; donations from the public, and purchasing some.
"Over 50 percent of our funding is from donations," Larson said. The rest comes from organizations like United Way and FEMA.
All proceeds from the pie contest will go to Kitchen Table, Bakke said, and it is still being tallied. Artists who set up booths at the contest were donating a portion of their sales to Kitchen Table, as well.
"I agreed to do it because the food shelf is a very much needed service," said Claudia Stenson, who works at House of Hope and was one of two women competing.
"We believe part of our mission is to serve others and this is a way we are able to help."
