Pie Fest returns to Olympia with record donations

Hundreds of people swarmed into the Olympia Center on Saturday with one goal: pie.

When they entered the building, they were met by apple pie, rhubarb pie, cherry pie, berry pie — even cookie dough pie.

“I had never even heard of cookie dough pie before today, but it’s selling like hotcakes,” said Lindsay Smith, an event volunteer.

This year the Olympia Pie Fest, organized by the Olympia Pie Bakers Guild, brought in a record 175 pies, which were cut up and sold for $3 a piece. In 2015, the fundraiser brought in about $8,000 for the Senior Nutrition Program and the Thurston County Food Bank.

A portion of the money generated this year will fund the Food Bank’s school backpack program, which provides food to low-income children on the weekend. Food Bank Director Robert Coit said the program serves about 2,200 children throughout Thurston County each week.

“Everyone should have as much pie as they can eat,” Coit said. “It’s for a good cause.”

While organizers ran out of pie early last year, this year they had leftovers when the event concluded. Students from the culinary program at South Puget Sound Community College had contributed 40 pies to the cause this year.

Pie Fest is also a way for local bakers to show of their talents. Dozens of contestants in three age categories entered pies that were judged by professional bakers.

The first winner of the day was Ruby O’Donnell, 10, of Olympia. Her blueberry pie earned her first place in children’s category, for contestants 6 to 12 years old, and was auctioned for $75.

Ruby said she used her mom’s secret recipe, and hopes to become a baker when she grows up.

“I thought this would be a fun way to practice,” Ruby said.

Christine Sylva said her family is new to the Olympia area, and they attended Pie Fest as a way to get to know their community. She was accompanied by her husband, Adam, 1-year-old daughter Aaiden and 3-year-old son Dani.

“This was even better than I was expecting,” Christine Sylva said. “I walked around the table five times before choosing my pie.”

Her sister-in-law and nephew, Amanda and Skyler Borges, joined them.

Skyler picked out a piece of strawberry pie, and Dani picked out a piece of chocolate pie. Both boys said they had found their favorite types of pie. They leaned across the table and fed each other bites.

“I think everyone’s pretty happy with their pie choice,” Amanda Borges said.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Pie Fest returns to Olympia with record donations."