Arts Council, Historical Society bring back Olga Perkl pasties for joint fundraising effort

The Lincoln Council for the Arts and the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society have banded together for a local fundraiser selling pasties using Olga Perkl’s recipe.

The fundraiser came to fruition after both organizations realized they were planning pasty sales independently.

“The two organizations were thinking about doing pasties, so we just joined forces to sell more,” said UBVHS president Erin Dey.

Dey and Laura Butler, president of the Lincoln Council for the Arts, are competing to see which president can sell more. The poster advertising the sale notes that the winning president will gain bragging rights

“Erin Dey is a hoot,” said Butler. “I was gullible. I enjoy competition so when she said. "Let's see who can sell more", I jumped at the offer.”

Dey made an early jump in sales, leaving the Council for the Arts to try to catch up. So far, sales are going well, and the organizations met their original sales goal during the first week of the competition, said Butler.

“Erin, of course, sent out texts to the whole state, so that was helpful,” said Butler, adding that she herself has used the opportunity to go door to door meeting neighbors.

The Lincoln Council for the Arts and the UBVHS plan to sell up to 2,000 pasties, and as of Sunday, just a little over one week since sales started, they had sold 911, said Dey.

The Council for the Arts brings artists with diverse talents to Lincoln, said Bulter, adding that funds from the pasty sale will go to support hosting these events. The UBVHS is still discussing what they will use the funds for.

Pasties can be purchased from the organization presidents, from businesses around town, and from organization members. Sales conclude on Feb. 28. Pasty pickup will be on March 13 and 14.

“Even if you don’t like pasties, you can still donate,” said Dey. “We might have a list of people who could use some or you could donate to each organization or donate to our grocery bill.”

“Those who have neighbors who are only here on the weekends, please ask them if they want to support,” added Butler. The organizations are also scheduling volunteer shifts to help prep and cook the pasties in March.

“This is my first fundraising event in Lincoln. I am experiencing meeting the local owners and their willingness to jump in and support with funds or ingredients,” said Butler.

Lincoln residents have organized several pasty sales over the years to fundraise for different organizations and causes.

In 2007, when she was 87, Olga Perkl organized the first notable pasty sale in Lincoln to raise money to support repairs for the Lincoln Community Hall. She used seed money donations from her granddaughters totaling $150 to buy the necessary supplies to get started, according to an article written by Kim Skornogoski for the Great Falls Tribune.

Perkl and seven other cooks spent a first weekend making 170 pasties, which quickly sold. Over the course of the next few months, wrote Skornogoski, the women raised $5,000, which was half of the amount needed for matching funds to repair the hall.