WATERLOO - Every year, people line up outside the doors for the broasted chicken and ham dinner at St. Edward Catholic Church's fall festival. The stick-to-your-ribs meal is a staple at the festival, drawing nearly 1,000 hungry stomachs through the church doors.

But this year people aren't just hungry for an inexpensive dinner. Times are tough, and organizers of the St. Ed's festival and other area church fall festivals and bazaars say people are looking for more than a good meal and baked goods.

"There is a growing need. We are seeing community-wide that people are feeling more desolate. They are looking for a little comfort and community. In periods of instability, that's when faith is so important," said Mike Schreck, who is chairing Blessed Sacrament Church's fall festival with his wife, Anne.

To fill that need, parishioners of Cedar Valley churches have spent months stitching, crafting and baking in preparation for the annual fall events.

At St. Ed's, it takes hundreds of volunteers to pull off the fall festival. Karol Rae Hoth, director of this year's event, said the commitment of parishioners is crucial to the success of the event. And the success of the event is crucial to the church.

"It is the big fundraiser for the church. The festival money is for operations and maintaining the building and property. If you drove by today, you'll see people painting the front part of the church. You'll see a variety of landscaping around the buildings. That money comes from the festival," Hoth said.

Last year the St. Edward festival generated $35,000 for church maintenance and repairs. This year Hoth is hoping to see that number hold steady. In a struggling economy, it may be a little tougher than in years past.

"The festivals were all down last year. We anticipated a downturn, so we tried to get more donations and add new features but not have additional expenses," she said.

At Our Savior's Lutheran Church, money raised at the annual bazaar goes to support church and community projects. At least 50 percent of earnings from the event are given to community causes, said organizer Jane Blough. The church usually nets between $8,000 to $9,000 from the bazaar.

"If there is more need in the community, then we give more," she said. "I just heard on TV this week about police dogs needing bullet-proof vests, so we're thinking of putting some of the money toward that."

Area churches say planning for the festivals begins early in the year, often when there's still snow on the ground. There are quilts to be made, quirky holiday items to be crafted and cookies and quick breads to be baked. The group effort strengthens the congregation, Blough said, bridging the gap between the youth and the elders in the church.

"They do bond because everybody helps each other," she said.

At Blessed Sacrament, the theme for this year's fall festival is "A Beautiful Mosaic," inspired by the colorful mosaic in the church sanctuary.

"It takes all the little pieces to come together to create such a beautiful work of art," Schreck said. "It's the same with reaching out to the community. We want to get people connected, and this event ties everything to that mission. Faith is about joy and what we do for each other. We want to send a message to the community that people matter."