Making fastnachts at Holy Trinity Catholic Church is an exact science. Sort of. There are specific steps required in making the treats, but because each one is handmade, no two are alike, said Betty Mahan, a member of the fastnacht committee at the church.

"There is a correct way to roll the dough," Mahan explained. "It's not like rolling dough at home. You don't flour the dough. You only flour the board and the pin. You don't turn the dough over. You relax the dough by lifting if off the board." The dough rises twice - once overnight before it's rolled out and once after rolling - before the treats are fried. She noted that the resulting fastnacht is unique, adding, "I've never had any that taste like ours."

Holy Trinity's annual fastnacht sale will begin on Monday, Feb. 20. Sales will continue Tuesday, Feb. 21, and Wednesday, Feb. 22, followed by Mondays and Wednesdays through March 15.

The fastnacht sale started as a project to raise funds to build a new church. While the current bake will produce more than 5,000 dozen fastnachts, the sale began as a small endeavor, noted volunteer Kathleen Lutz.

"It started out with only one or two days of sales," said Lutz, who has been volunteering with the bake since the 1970s. While the original recipe is the same, she noted that some things have been tweaked. "We've found easier ways to do things over the years," she said. "Everybody has good ideas. Some work and some don't."

The sale is still a fundraiser for the church, with proceeds used for parish projects and to support Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School. Members of St. Peter Catholic Church in Columbia also assist with the sale, said St. Peter member George Overmeyer. "This is a 'fun' raiser more than a fundraiser," he added. "We all have a lot of fun."

Volunteers are needed to help with the bakes, with shifts available starting at 4 a.m. for people who want to help roll the dough. Experience is not required, said volunteer Karen Sahd. "There's always somebody around who knows the correct way to do things," she commented.

Mahan noted that working at 4 a.m. is not required. "People can give an hour of time or help when they can," she said. "We need second shift people and cleanup people, too."

Fastnachts are available by the dozen, either glazed or plain. The committee members estimate that 75% of orders are for glazed treats. "You don't even need to look in the bag to know if they are glazed or not," volunteer Jim Knapp said. "It's evident by the weight of the bag because we use so much glaze."

Orders will be taken for fastnachts online only until sold out. To place an order, visit http://www.holytrinitycolumbiapa.com. Doors will open at 10 a.m. each day for pickup at the side entrance of the school, 404 Cherry St., Columbia. Orders not picked up by 1 p.m. will be resold on a first-come, first-served basis. To volunteer with the fastnacht bake, call the parish office at 717-684-2711.