In keeping with a Fall tradition, members of the Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center are currently making their batches of apple butter.
For several years now, the Center has made apple butter to sell to the community.
“It’s a big fundraiser for our Center,” said Director Kathy Dula, adding the money raised helps support the Center and the services it provides.
For more than 25 years, the Center, its members and community volunteers have made apple butter in large tubs using traditional wooden stirring paddles.
The Center makes an event of it. Different musicians from the community come and play music as the members take turns tending the tubs. On Tuesday, the Center and its guests were treated to music by Tom Kelly and Teresa Cornett. The Center also had visitors from Sycamore Springs Assisted Living facility and Dawn of Hope.
“Everybody enjoys it,” Dula said. “It’s good fellowship.”
Tuesday marked the second of three days where the Center will make a batch of apple butter. Last week, on Oct. 4, the Center made 128 quarts of apple butter. This week they added to that total and next week on Tuesday they will finish off their third batch for the year.
“We’ll end up making 350 quarts total,” Dula said.
While that may sound like a lot of apple butter, Dula said it won’t last long at the Center.
“We always sell out,” she said. “Last year we were sold out by February and people were calling wanting more.”
The apple butter is already on sale for this year at a cost of $6 for a pint or $10 for a quart.
The Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center is always open to new members. Membership dues for residents aged 55-59 is $30 for the year and $15 per year for residents age 60 and older. Membership gives individuals access to the Center and it’s programs. Breakfast and lunch are available at the Center for a $2 donation per meal.
The Elizabethton Senior Center is located at 428 E. G St. next to the Carter County Health Department. For more information on the Center or its programs contact them at (423) 543-4362.