DES MOINES, Iowa — West Des Moines United Methodist Church’s stand is one of those places where you can find volunteers filling the air with the smell of tasty food as they serve up pulled pork sandwiches, cinnamon rolls and fairgoers’ stand favorite: biscuits and gravy.
At this year’s Iowa State Fair, over 300 people from West Des Moines United Methodist and other churches are volunteering their time.
“There are people who have done this for many, many years,” said volunteer Craige Wrenn. “There are probably some volunteers, some church members who have been doing this for decades.”
Wrenn has volunteered at the stand for five years and said he enjoys getting to meet people from other churches and fairgoers while he spends time at the stand.
This volunteer service dates 75 years at West Des Moines United Methodist’s stand.
Craige Wrenn: “We’re really proud of it. You know there used to be a whole row of churches that had food stands. And we’re the last one remaining. And after 75 years, that’s an accomplishment we’re really proud of.”
West Des Moines United Methodist is now the only church sitting at this area of the fair with a food stand. In return for volunteer help, the church donates part of its fair funds to the churches these volunteers come from, for their mission trips.