Church salad luncheon fills the basement

People just kept on coming to the salad luncheon offered at Waseca’s First Congregational Church on Friday, May 1. About 120 customers came for the selection of 30 different salads; 20 volunteers helped serve them. 

 

Inside the front door were three raffle baskets, one had food and recipes titled, “Kitchen Fun”; the next was a “Couple’s Basket” filled with romantic items; and the third, titled “Family Fun,” offered games and activities. Also on display were three silent auction items and people were placing bids.

 

Ticket takers were Millie Neight and William Dickerson. Millie, who is 100 years old, said, “I’ve been a member of this church since 1949. Back in the 50s they had a recipe book that had salads in it, and they went with that and made it a tradition. Back then I wanted to help out so much I took off time from my job so I could work at the church.” Dickerson added, “We still have some time left since it’s only noon,” he took a moment to add up his count and said, “We’ve had 83 people come through our door so far.”

 

Pastor Derrick Skoglund was making his rounds.  Evidently proud of his church, he said of the day’s events, “This has all been great, lots of people are showing up.” He squinted his eyes and pointed to the other side of the room: “Look, there’s ten more people who just walked in.” He found a back room and asked the gals organizing there, “How many of these events have we done now?” The ladies put their heads together and agreed, “We’ve seen at least 50 by now, we think. But if you want the exact number, you need to speak to Millie because she’s been to all of them.”

 

Back to Millie, who reported, “Well, I think it’s been more than 50, because I remember they were doing this here in the 1950s, so that would be closer to 70 luncheons.” Those near her nodded their heads in agreement, but they could not decide what the first year was. Shirley Baker was just sitting down and she said, “I didn’t see a single salad up there I didn’t want to eat, but the one I am most excited to eat is this shoestring potato salad, I haven’t had that in a really long time.”

 

Outside, Rita Miller and her friend Jodie Pollock were just arriving. When asked which salads they liked the most Miller said, “I like them all.” Her friend Pollock said, “I will have to see what they have before I make a decision, but I usually like all salads.” The First Congregational Church would like to thank all those who attended.