An annual fundraiser is slowly returning to normal with an event this weekend in Jefferson.

Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Jeff Lamoureux says the Greene County affiliate is hosting a soup luncheon and pie auction. The normal fundraiser of the Nativity Festival was put on hold last year because of the pandemic and this year Lamoureux explains the decision behind why they are only bringing back two of the aspects from the Nativity Festival.

“Ultimately the decision was made, let’s just wait one more year. I know a lot of things are going on, people are meeting and getting together. But we just decided as an organization that we’re going to just wait another year to have that Nativity Festival.”

The soup luncheon will take place from 11am-1pm Sunday at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson as a drive-thru only option. There will be chili or chicken noodle soup, along with vegetables and a dessert for a free-will donation. Lamoureux points out they are trying an online pie auction with eight donated pies that people can bid on now.

“We’re excited to at least have that online. It’s not as fun as being there in person, some of the excitement with the live auctioneer and auctioning those off. But again, at the end of the day, this is a fundraiser for Habitat.”

The online pie auction is through Habitat’s website at heartofiowahabitat.org and bidding will end at 1pm on Sunday. Lamoureux says proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward continuing Helping Hands housing projects, where volunteers make improvements to existing, owner-occupied homes.