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Berry, berry best

Trinity Church volunteers offer hand-made festival treats

Trinity Episcopal Church has been a part of the Belleville
National Strawberry Festival since 1977. To this day, the
church volunteers have been serving freshly-made glazed
strawberry pies and their famous homemade sloppy joes in a
comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere. In addition to glazed
fresh strawberry pies, the bakery features a variety of home-
made treats such as strawberry bread and muffins, regular
and no-sugar-added strawberry freezer jam, tangy strawberry
tarts, and strawberry cheesecake.
The Trinity food tent draws a large crowd of regular visitors
during lunch or dinner during the Strawberry Festival. The
homemade sloppy joes have been a favorite of festival goers
for 40 years. Also offered are the unique sloppy nachos which
are a popular choice. Crunchy tortilla chips are smothered
with meaty sloppy joe and nacho cheese sauce. For a spicy
kick add a big spoonful of jalapeno peppers. The church food
tent also serves regular nachos and 100 percent beef hot dogs
with all the popular toppings. their festival foods in the Trinity kitchen. The sloppy joes,
Dessert is another special feature at the food tent where the cheesecakes, shortcakes, breads, muffins, jams, everything…
famous Trinity strawberry shortcake is served. The light and all are made fresh from scratch. More than 1500 pounds of
tender shortcakes are covered with a heaping scoop of sweet- strawberries are hulled on site during the festival so that
ened strawberries and topped with real whipped cream. Also everything is as fresh as possible.
tempting are the strawberry or hot fudge sundaes, a personal The church grounds also features many crafters and ven-
glazed pie, a strawberry tart, a slice of strawberry cheesecake dors selling their creations including items like honey, lotions,
or a bowl of fresh candles, crocheted items, laser wood crafts, jewelry, blown
strawberries to dip glass, greeting cards, name rings, clothing, dolls and acces-
in powdered sugar sories, garden art, quilts, Avon, Tupperware, Color Street Nails
or hot fudge. and many, many more items at the craft booths, another annu-
Festival goers al tradition at Trinity.
say they wait all Twenty-five percent of the food tent and bakery profits from
year for sweet, sales at the Strawberry Festival will go to support the Friday
creamy Trinity Fill-Up program which provides backpacks of food for elemen-
strawberry smooth- tary children in the Van Buren school district who live in food
ie. The smoothies insecure homes. Each Friday, they receive enough food for
are the perfect two breakfasts, two lunches, three snacks and a menu stretch-
indulgence on a hot er that helps the entire family.
June afternoon. Additionally, 50 percent of the proceeds from Trinity
Since much of the Strawberry Festival activities are used to support community
Trinity food tent projects. In years past, the Strawberry Festival has been able
and bakery menu is to support the Belleville Emergency Food Closet, Helping
available in gluten- Hand Food Pantry, SOS Community Services, Boy Scouts, Girl
free everybody can Scouts, Adopt-A-Child Size, Spirit of Hope Soup Kitchen,
enjoy their festival Salvation Army, and Heifer International among many others.
treats. The other half of the proceeds is used to fund special projects
Trinity volun- and events at the church.
teers spend several Trinity Episcopal Church is the first Strawberry Festival
days lovingly stop on Belleville Road as vehicles exit I-94 heading into
preparing all of Belleville.