Thanksgiving cooks can get a hand with dessert this year through the Ottawa Lions Club's new "Pies for Eyes" program.

The club is hoping to take orders by Wednesday, Nov. 11, for 400 oven-ready apple, cherry and pumpkin pies.

Buyers will have the option of having their order delivered to their home or picking them up at the Lions Club hall, 501 Bellevue Ave. Scheduled pickup times will be Tuesday, Nov. 24 from noon to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The project was developed by club member Carol Downey of Marseilles, a Realtor with Coldwell-Banker in Ottawa.

"We're always looking for ways to promote Lionism, which is about vision and hearing care for people with those impairments."

Link that with fundraising and the "Pies for Eyes" program was born.

"I think the name tells it all."

Proceeds from "Pies for Eyes" will benefit the club's vision and hearing programs.

Downey can vouch for the homemade goodness of the pie recipes, which she has been using for years.

"The pie crust recipe was my mother's, but I can't remember where I got the apple pie recipe – probably from my grandma."

Each pie will come in a foil pan boxed with cooking instructions and ready to pop into the oven for $8 each. There also will be an option for ready-to-eat pies at $12 each, which Downey cautions will most likely be baked the Monday before Thanksgiving.

"So, they won't be as fresh as baking it yourself."

The Lions have already had one pie-making session, producing 118 pies in just four hours.

"We had a good crew show up and we had a great time."

No pies were thrown, "but we did have some flour scattered around."

To place an order, phone Downey at 815-795-4550.