On Monday mornings in November, the kitchen at the non-profit Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, 132 N Main St., is turned into a candy factory. Dozens of volunteers are enlisted to make hundreds of pounds of peanut brittle, to stock the center’s largest single fundraiser. It’s hot, hard work, but the conversation and energy level are lively.
Director Tonya Meyer notes that originally the brittle was made on demand in small batches. The candy is made using the original 1974 recipe. The organization was created in 1970 and the current location was purchased in the late 1980s. A wide variety of activities are provided ranging from a lending library to group tours in the U.S. and abroad. Current membership is lower than usual at about 520, but has seen an increase since August, according Meyer. The minimum age for membership is 55.
Peanut brittle ($8/pound) is one of many items on sale at the Senior Center, which also sells crafts made by members. On November 12 and 13, the center will host its annual Christmas Garage sale. Hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m.-noon on Saturday.
