By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
It's the sweetest of treats: sugary sensations for a good cause.
For over 2 decades, Floyd Valley Auxiliary volunteers have been spending their holiday seasons making bundles of candy joy from scratch. Benefits go back to the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary.
"This year it's going for a surgical warming blanket," said Betty Dutcher, a chairperson of the group.
Last year, it raised $7,200.
"It's a good fundraiser, a very good fundraiser for us. It has grown every year. And we enjoy getting together and have a lot of fun," said Ruth Kneip, a Committee Member.
This year, they're hoping to at least match that with, get this:
70 batches of fudge, 70 batches of white chocolate fudge with apricots, and 71 batches of peanut clusters.
But what the group is famous for are caramels. This year, they made 220 batches. And it's those babies that have put them in the national spotlight.
The candies have been made into an ice cream flavor, Copper Kettle Caramel by 2nd Street Creamery, a brand distributed by Wells in Le Mars.
"That happened just this past year. I think they wanted to give back something to the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary and so Wells decided to make us a part of their ice cream," said Dutcher.
And the connection is quite clear.
Right on the pint it reads: "We created this flavor for the women of the Hospital Auxiliary, who are famous for a sweet and buttery little delicacy known as the auxiliary caramel. Here's to you ladies!"
And the ladies, are loving it.
"Pretty exciting, yes it is, pretty exciting," said Ruth & Sally Kneip.
Unfortunately, the ordering period for the candies has ended but you can find the 2nd St. Creamery ice cream flavor at your local HyVee or Fareway.
Any leftover candy the Auxiliary has will be sold at the Auxiliary's Dec. 1st "Goodie Day" from 8am-noon at the hospital (714 Lincoln St. NE, Le Mars, IA).
