Watch our 2024 Candy Kitchen video. It sure will make you smile!
Candy Kitchen History
The Candy Kitchen we know today at Gender Road Christian Church is the product of dedicated volunteer work through 3 churches over the course of 70 – 75 YEARS!!
The history of the Candy Kitchen as told by Pat Reed:
Sometime in the 1950’s at the church on Wilson Ave., the Ladies Group called Christian Women’s Fellowship decided to make Easter eggs to raise money for the General CWF ladies group in the Ohio Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Verna Willie’s family had a chocolate shop in downtown Columbus. She volunteered to teach the ladies how to make the Easter eggs. The group made 1lb eggs, 1/2lb eggs and 1/4lb eggs that were molded into shape by hand. The secretary of the church, Virginia Stalnaker, was the best person at dipping the molded fondant into chocolate and placing it on the parchment paper. The ladies would write the names of the recipients in icing on the top of the eggs.
The congregation moved to a new location and the candy making operation moved with them to their new spot at 3330 East Livingston Ave., Columbus, OH. The candy crew was made up of men and women. When Virginia was no longer able to dip the eggs in chocolate, the decision was made to use molds to form the eggs. They also had to find a different supplier for the chocolate. The candy making group used dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. At Leisure Arts, Inc., the group was introduced to mini-molds, sucker molds, bonbon molds in addition to the egg molds.
The project continued to grow with 15 – 20 people working in the Candy Kitchen. Because the fondant was thick, it took 3 people to mix it by hand! The suckers were painted and filled by 2 people. The mini molds were filled by another 3 or 4 people who used plastic bottles filled with chocolate which would be squeezed out through a nozzle. The candy would then be trimmed by Xacto knives on metal plates. Yet another group would weigh and pack. It was like Santa’s Candy Shop. They continued to make Christmas and Easter candy for another 40 years!!
As time passed, and workers were not able to continue with the Candy Kitchen, the CWF at the Southeast Christian Church moved into a store front until the new church in Canal Winchester, OH was built – the Gender Road Christian Church! During this time there was a lapse of 2 years where candy could not be made until the new church was completed. When Ellen Burke passed on, her friend, Jean Wheeler encouraged the group to start making candy again.
Since the Candy Kitchen has been a part of Gender Road Christian Church, leaders of this volunteer project have been Joan Short, Pat Reed, Amy Weinrich and more.
Candy Kitchen Overview for the Volunteer team
Meeting Times:
Twice a year, seasonally, for Christmas and Easter in the church kitchen
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00am – 3:30pm for two - three weeks prior to the start of the season - typically the second half of October and first part of November and a few weeks before the start of Lent.
Missions and tasks:
1) To Provide a welcoming place of fellowship where volunteers work together to produce exceptional handmade candy that funds church ministries, missions, and community outreach.
2) To Welcome new volunteers of all ages and skill levels to build relationships and support networks within the church
3) To Pass knowledge from experienced volunteers to new generations to continue this Legacy of service that has OVER 70 years of history!!
4) To Contribute to mission fundraisers, support nursing home ministries, provide gifts and prizes for various events, and support the general needs of the church
Current Needs:
1) Volunteers of all ages and skill levels for any amount of time. Full time commitment is Not needed.
Any amount of time - even just an hour here and there is very helpful. There are many small jobs that add up to quite a large operation and many hands make light work. Most jobs are completed seated so standing for long periods of time is not a requirement. Physical limitations are easily accommodated.
2) Donations of supplies (specific list available upon request) to keep costs low and donations high
3) Cash donations to purchase supplies and update equipment as needed
4) Open to ideas. For example, this past Easter the Candy Kitchen was gifted with handmade Easter baskets to sell with the candy. Similar donations that align with the season are most welcome.
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