Five years ago this August, St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ in Kunkletown and the Salem United Church of Christ in Gilbert, joined forces to run a food stand together at the West End Fair.

Like many churches today, St. Matthew’s and Salem have many longtime members willing to volunteer, but not as many younger members.

Realizing neither church by itself was able to run and staff volunteers for the entire week of the fair, the churches found a solution.

“We came up with the idea of the two churches joining together, and it has worked out well,” said Wanda Wunder, a member of St. Matthew’s and one of the main organizers for the fair stand.

The stand was always a popular place to eat because of the delicious sausage sandwiches that are a favorite on the menu, Unfortunately this year both churches agreed there needed to be some changes on the menu.

Realizing that most of their volunteers were over 55, some just felt working in the stand, setting up the heavy grill, hot grease and cleaning up at the end of their shift was too much.

“We needed to get a plan,” Wunder said.

The two churches sat down and brainstormed and came up with the idea of made-to-order hoagies.

“This makes it fresh and you get what you want on your hoagie,” she said, and added they had made it simple to order.

Order slips with all the meats, cheeses, tomatoes, lettuce and condiments listed will be available and all the customer has to do is check what they want to be on the hoagie. There will also be hot dogs, hamburgers and pork rolls.

Both congregations realize some people might be disappointed but agree that it is better working together to raise money for both churches than not to have a stand at the fair at all.

On Friday morning the stand was buzzing as the volunteers from both churches cleaned, stocked all soda, meat, condiments and all the things they would need to serve food.

Devoe Breinich and Renee Keiper were busy wiping the counters and putting things in place, as other members from the two churches helped where needed.

What makes it work is everything from chores to the money is divided evenly.

“If Salem UCC volunteers closed one night, the St. Matthew’s UCC would close the next night and Salem UCC volunteers would open the morning shift,” Wunder said.

“We are trying out the made-to-order hoagies and we haven’t totally ruled out sausage sandwiches forever, but we just felt rather than lose volunteers because they couldn’t work as hard as they use to be able to, this keeps the stand going,” Wunder said.

Longtime volunteer

Anita Borger, a lifelong member of Salem UCC, who was busy wiping off the tables and benches, said she can’t remember when she first started coming to the fair.

“I have been helping since the 1950s when my grandparents and parents brought me. I started helping when I was 6. They let me sell the 5, 10 and 25 cent candy,” she said.

Laughing, Borger said, “I guess they figured that if I messed up the change, it wouldn’t be too much money that was lost.”

Many things about the fair have changed over the years, Borger said. One thing she remembered is the admission to the fair years ago was charged by the car.

“I remember we all piled in and off to the fair we would go,” she said.

Fair events

Tonight, the Fusia Dance Center will perform at 5 p.m., with McElligott School of Irish Dance at 6 p.m.

A presentation by Pocono Pony and Area Agency on Aging will be held at 5 p.m., with a senior program at 6:30 p.m. American Bandstand Revue will perform at 7 and 8:15 p.m.

The small car demolition derby will start at 7 p.m.

Thursday is Students Day. Admission is $3 with school photo ID. The schedule includes horse judging at 10 a.m., Chris Eckert at 3:30 p.m. and Levels Dance Studio at 6 p.m.

A Livestock Costume Parade will be held at 6 p.m., demolition derby at 7 p.m. and The Steel Creek Band at 7 and 8:15 p.m.