First Posted: 12/16/2014

CLARKS SUMMIT — On Dec. 13, a crowd waited patiently in a line that extended from door to door within the Clarks Summit Fire Company No. 1 at 321 Bedford St.

At 10 a.m. and not a minute before, a Joseph W. Hall Memorial Auxiliary member opened the double doors leading to the banquet hall, where as many as 100 varieties of cookies awaited patrons. Most of the sweet treats sold at the Eighth Annual Holiday Cookie Walk were donated by auxiliary and fire company members, coworkers and friends.

“This was a record-breaking year for the auxiliary with as many as 100 varieties of home baked cookies…,” auxiliary president Karyn Bevard said.

A cookie walk is a sale of cookies made by a group of people. Customers can walk around the room and choose from their favorite varieties.

What were the crowd pleasers? Bevard and Nancy Ayers, auxiliary vice president agreed, “they (patrons) love them all.”

“Most people are looking for the ones that are different; things they don’t make themselves,” Bevard said.

Ayers said a lot of people buy large quantities and give them to their neighbors and they take them to parties. Rugala, Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding, Anisette, and Rum Balls were among the assortment.

“Like the ethnic cookies and family recipes. A lot of the older people who don’t bake anymore, they come here to buy them. They can get a variety…,” Ayers added.

Pre-wrapped packages were also assembled and ready for gift-giving.

“It has become a holiday tradition for a lot of people in the community,” said Ayers.

Monies raised at the cookie walk help the auxiliary purchase, update or replace equipment used by the fire company. Coupons issued by two local businesses, Sweet Frog, Dickson City and Ayers’ Country Market, Newton Township were distributed to cookie walk customers at this year’s event and offer the auxiliary additional fundraising opportunities.

“If they go to Sweet Frog (Dickson City),” said Bevard, “they’re going to give us 20 percent of what the people spend from Dec. 15 to 21.”

Ayers said, “Ayers’ Country Market will donate five percent of sales over $20 to the auxiliary until Jan. 15, 2015.”