An annual staple at the Apple n' Pork Festival in Clinton is the Waynesville Women's Club and their gingerbread cookies.

Olivia Klemm with the Waynesville Women's Club says the gingerbread cookies are a year-round process with baking approximately 1,000 cookies each month. The cookies are then frozen until the festival and decorated on-site.

Patty Klemm indicates she has been told that their cookies are known on an international level. Over the years festivalgoers have purchased the cookies and let the ladies know that they plan on sending them to their family members who live out of state or internationally.

The Waynesville Women's Club uses the funds from the festival for the upkeep of Gingerbread Park in Waynesville. Recent upgrades include picnic tables and a new slide. Klemm says an idea for this year's funds is to redo the baseball field.

Klemm adds they are also able to make donations to other Waynesville organizations throughout the year. She says the Apple n' Pork Festival is their sole fundraiser.

The Waynesville Women's Club is looking for volunteers to help them bake gingerbread cookies. Anyone interested is encouraged to email waynesvillewomensclub@gmail.com.