One is a Paczek, more than one is Paczki. A truck load of them is a Paczkowy Fest.
"We ordered 1,500 dozen," said Beth Lewandowski, One Village Council vice president.
That's 18,00 fried custard, cream or fruit filled Polish pastries. The three-day sale of the Polish pre-Lenten indulgence raises money for the council's community projects.
"It's the busiest, the most hectic, the most chaotic, but it's also the most rewarding because we get to meet people who come back to the neighborhood to support us and people from the neighborhood," said council president Sherry Walker.
"Right now we're involved in a big job readiness program. What we're trying to do is to get residents ready for when jobs become available," Lewandowski said.
The 350 to 470 high-calorie pastries from Bakery Unlimited - bring in a high volume of money.
"We make about, between $9,000 and $12,000 after costs and everything," Walker said.
The Paczki tradition has a dedicated following, but newcomers are always welcome.
"This is my first time, but I've heard about it forever," said Bob Nusbaum a first-timer to the Polish Village Paczkowy Fest.
The flavors range from the traditional prune to the new chocolate-cream-filled paczki.
"We have 10 flavors. The prune, raisin and plain are the most traditional Polish Flavors. We've added more American flavors," Lewandowski said.
One thing that will never change... the tasty, messy powdered sugar.
The pastries are on sale at the Old Library Building in the Polish Village on Lagrange Street. Sunday from 8 AM to 2 PM, Monday 8 AM to 6 PM and Fat Tuesday 5 AM until they sell out.
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