Due to covid-19 the Bluffton Senior Center is unable to make peanut brittle this year. But, it now offers Gethsemani Farms fudge and fruitcakes.

“Peanut brittle has always been one of the Center’s biggest fundraisers, a project that started in the early 1970s,” said Tonya Meyer, center director.

“To make the candy, 30 or more senior citizens need to stand shoulder to shoulder for several hours, which is not advisable during the pandemic.” 

To substitute the lost income from the peanut brittle, the  Center is partnering with Gethsemani Farms in Trappist, Kentucky, to offer fudge and fruitcakes. 

Fudge and fruitcakes are now available at the Center.

The Abbey of Gethsemani began in 1848 as an outpost in Nelson County, Kentucky, for 44 French monks fleeing the American Revolution. As Trappist monks, they support their cloistered community through the work of their hands. 

Days of prayer and meditation allow for only a few hours to produce their acclaimed fruitcake and fudge. 

Handmade in small batches since 1955 from the freshest ingredients, every morsel reflects their devotion to the Trappist rule Ora et Labora (prayer and work). 

All of the fruitcake and some of the fudge has bourbon in the recipe as the Abbey is located in Kentucky Bourbon Country. 

The half cakes sell for $21 and one pound of fudge sells for $20.50. There are four flavors of fudge: 
• Chocolate walnut 
• Kentucky bourbon butter walnut 
• Kentucky bourbon chocolate pecan  
• Mint julep chocolate bourbon fudge 

The Center has a limited quantity of the product, but buying from the Center saves consumers on shipping costs. 

The Bluffton Senior Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays in November and December 9 a.m. to noon.