On October 3 to 5, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church hosted its annual Harvest Festival, a three-day event open for community members to enjoy carnival rides, games, cultural food, and fellowship from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. The proceeds raised go directly to the church, allowing it to continue hosting events and expanding its outreach.
One booth in particular has been subject to much praise and recognition in the past years: The Bakery, formerly known as Cookies n’ Creme. This year, The Bakery sold hundreds of desserts under the leadership of St. Paul member Prisca Zooter. Under her guidance, the booth accepted batches of homemade baked donations from churchgoers including their famous cookies, brownies, pies, cakes, and cupcakes.
“Members of the church all bake different treats so it shows all the dedication that goes into running the booth. It’s one of the busiest booths with young children and adults all coming to try fresh desserts,” The Bakery volunteer Eva Alcantara (12) said.
With various shifts came an abundance of volunteers. The Bakery welcomed the help of dozens of Ayala students, each of them assigned to various tasks and functions to expand the stand’s sales. Some volunteers scooped ice cream, others completed orders, and a team of five was sent to the BINGO booth as a branch of The Bakery.
“At the BINGO station we got to set up a smaller Bakery booth in front of the bingo tent and sell to players. We went inside the tent to offer players baked goodies while they tried to win the $500 grand prize,” volunteer Ashley Chang (12) said.
Bakery volunteers stationed at the BINGO tent also carted cookies and brownies around the festival, advertising The Bakery booth via a hand-drawn sign and by announcing the variety of sweet treats available. Whether positioned at the main booth or passing by others, including the Filipino Food stand, the carnival game booths, and the auction center, volunteers sold the baked goods to hundreds of attendees, amounting to incredible sales.
“Its really cool to see every year how much effort is put into running the booth. The Bakery is a universal stand where everyone can enjoy their favorite baked items,” Audris Yueh (12) said.
After another successful year, The Bakery and volunteers celebrate their accomplishment and are eagerly awaiting the next festival.
