Throughout the month of September, Great Bend’s Presbyterian Women will take orders for the finest pecans from Georgia, for delivery by the first of November, said Carol Woodmansee at First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend. Orders can be placed through any Presbyterian Woman or by calling the church office, 620-792-2594.
Proceeds from the sales are used to fund a wide variety of local philanthropic organizations, such as the Food Bank, Family Crisis Center, Salvation Army Store, Dream Center, Emergency Aid and Sunflower Diversified Services. Proceeds also go to Presbyterian Children’s mission and other national Presbyterian mission projects.
“Interestingly there are over 1,000 varieties of pecans, often named for Native American Indian tribes,” Woodmansee notes. These hand-selected and fresh-shelled pecans are harvested from Georgia orchards that have been in the Schermer family for over 65 years.
 This year the Schermer pecans can be ordered in several forms: one pound packages of halves, or medium pieces, 12-ounce packages of chocolate covered, and 10-ounce packages of cinnamon glazed or chocolate caramel clusters. New to the order choices this year will be packages of 8-ounce plain sugar glazed pecans. The prices will remain the same as last year, $10 a bag for the halves and pieces, and $9 a bag for the specialty packaging.
The colorful, decorative bags of pecans make wonderful holiday and year-round gifts as well as provide a healthy, nutritional benefit.
 Pecans are now known as the No. One “antioxi-nut” as they contain the highest level of antioxidants of all the nut family. Eating a handful (1.5 ounces) of pecans per day along with a diet low in saturated fat may prevent coronary heart disease, according to the USDA. Pecans play a role in lowering cholesterol by 11.3 percent and “bad” cholesterol by 16.5 percent.