It all started with a desire to bring running water to East Boothbay United Methodist Church. In the 1950s, a women’s group began selling pies and other baked goods to raise money so the church could have an indoor restroom and a kitchen. The United Methodist Women began what is now their annual pie sales which run from late May to early September.

The church has had running water for decades, but the twice monthly bake sales still continue. Proceeds now benefit local charitable organizations. Last year, bake sales totaled over $15,000, and this summer sales are expected to reach last year’s mark. “It doesn’t take long for the pies to sell out,” Pastor Tom Kerr said. “We’re already at $12,000, so I expect the figure to easily reach $15,000 again this year.”

Over a dozen members of UMC Women regularly participate in the bake sales. On Aug. 12, 65 pies were made along with other baked goods. Pie prices range from $25 to $30. Proceeds are donated to Boothbay Region Health Center, Maine Seacoast Mission, American Legion Shelter, New Hope for Women, Hope Haitian Children’s Choir, Rebuilding Together Maine, Boothbay Region Fuel Fund and St. Andrews Auxiliary.

The group’s unofficial leader is Anne Burt. She joined the group six years ago. Burt dropped by a bake sale when Sara Kerr talked her into stopping by the church for a recipe. “I came for a German chocolate pie recipe, and the next thing you know, I’m baking pies for the church.” On Aug. 11, Burt baked 29 pies for a bake sale. “I start the day before so they are all fresh,” she said. Deb Moorefield is another of the bakers. “I don’t know how some of the women do it. They donate their time and a little bit of money,” she said. “It’s wonderful knowing what you’re doing is really making a difference for somebody.”

Penny McKown is a summer resident, but she grew up in East Boothbay. She remembers her earliest contributions to the bake sales. When she was a pre-teen in the 1960s, there were tables of delicious baked goods and handicrafts on the church lawn, she recalled. “I used to wander happily among them trying to decide how to use my small supply of spending money,” she said.

McKown helped her mother bake cakes, pies and other baked goods. She mixed the cakes and made sure baked goods cooled properly. McKown lined paper plates with lace dollies and covered them with Saran Wrap. “Each week, I spent an afternoon in Aunt Gwen’s kitchen and produced six cakes for the weekly bake sale. This taught me independence and pride in baking a cake good enough to sell to the public,” she said.  “At that time, it was also a great joy for me learning a lemon supreme pound cake could fetch the princely sum of $5 to help the church.”

As an adult, McKown continues to contribute to the traditional UMC Women’s bake sales. “It is a great pleasure to help bake for the sales held to support the East Boothbay United Methodist Church. The people there are so warm and welcoming. I am happy to be able to continue to bake to support this special church,” she said.

The final UMC Women’s Bake Sale for this year is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 2 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the East Boothbay Fire Department.