Over 1,200 pounds of apples from Birchwood Orchard in Mason will go to those in need after volunteers from St. Vincent de Paul in Greenville helped pick late-season fruit for Thanksgiving pies.
Kevin Little, outgoing president of the pantry, said it’s a tradition that’s continued for as long as he’s been head of the pantry — at least six years.
The apples are donated by Birchwood Orchard and owner Mary Pierce. Volunteers head out to the orchard to pick, and while the apples end up in a variety of places, most are reserved for the New Ipswich Congregational Church’s Pie Ministry — an effort to make fresh-baked pies to go into the St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving baskets.
Steve Rothwell, the scoutmaster for Pack 3877, which serves the Mascenic School District area and surrounding towns, said it’s become a tradition for his scouts to participate, from gathering the apples to assembling the Thanksgiving baskets. He said seeing the throughline from picking the apples to delivering pies into people’s hands helps the scouts see the results of their service.
“We’re not doing it for us, we’re doing it for our neighbors in need,” said Rothwell. “Its a real community effort. And it’s important to know where that effort is going to end up.”
This year, the Pie Ministry will get together on Nov. 21 to peel the apples and prepare the pies.
Little said the remainder go to the libraries in Greenville and New Ipswich to share during story hour, are incorporated into community suppers, or get distributed to residents of the Greenville Falls senior living community.
“These apples will get dispersed throughout the community,” Little said.
