The recipe is a closely guarded secret.
In fact, no one who was making the cheese balls for the women’s sorority Psi Iota Xi-Iota Sigma knows the exact ingredients.
The women conceded that Todd Woods, owner of the St. Joseph IGA, who mixes the cheese blend may be the only person who actually knows the recipe.
“But they are delicious,” said sorority member Jill Robbins.
The cheese balls are the main fundraiser for the sorority. The women use the funds to help the St. Joseph Food Pantry, the summer reading program at the library and groups of students involved in art and music, as well as national research groups.
While the St. Joseph Chapter was formed in 2004, the national Psi Iota Xi was founded in 1897. The purpose of the sorority is to make a difference in the lives of individuals one community at a time.
St. Joseph librarian Susan McKinney was recruited for the sorority because they support the library’s summer reading program.
“I like the fact that we help the community with the food pantry and we help different charities in the areas of the schools that don’t get as much money as others including drama, music and the library.”
A few years ago the sorority helped purchase a kiln for St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s Art program.
The national sorority was originally founded to bring more diverse cultural experiences to local communities including in music and art. As the organization grew literature and literacy became an added focus. Now the organization also focuses on helping those with speech and hearing difficulties.
Kathy Lyons grew up seeing the good the sorority can do. Her mother Ramona Simpson, has been a member for as long as Lyons can remember.
“I grew up in sorority,” she said. “This was the thing to do. I love it. I like the camaraderie and just getting to do the girl things.”
Simpson said she was recruited into the sorority by ladies she went to church with, more than 30 years ago.
“What I like most about it is two things, I can help in a way that I cannot help by myself, I can help a lot of people and the other thing is the sisterhood. I absolutely love it.”
Debbie Garthwait was recruited into the sorority by Simpson.
“She asked me to join and I did,” she said. “I like the friendship, I like the camaraderie and I like that it’s a service organization.”
Member Jill Robbins said she got involved because she won the adult reading prize for the summer reading program. She came to a sorority meeting to thank them and found out the food pantry needed help.
“I enjoy our get-togethers,” she said. “It’s people you don’t see in your ordinary life so when we get together we have a lot of fun.”
Marita Booker was recruited into the sorority by Robbins.
Booker said she liked that the sorority is completely different from the other organizations she belongs to. She enjoys the group’s passion for mission, especially when it comes to working with children with speech difficulties as one of her closet friends has a son who deals with stuttering.
Rita McCannon recently retired from teaching after 35 years and was looking for things to keep her occupied.
She liked that the sorority worked with children with speech and hearing difficulties and literacy.
“I thought, that is what I want to do,” she said. “It was a good fit.”
