Sugar cookies cut out into Christmas trees covered with sprinkles, shortbread cookies, ginger snaps, and gingerbread men.
These are just some of the over 200 dozen cookies and fancy squares, too many varieties to list, which were snapped up at Emmanuel United Church Cookie Walk Saturday.
“The tables fill the whole hall from one end to the other, and they’re full of trays of cookies. As one tray would empty, we would refill it. Every year I worry that we’re not going to have enough, and every year I’m just blown away by how generous people really are,” said coordinator Elaine Simmens.”
The 8th Annual Cookie Walk has earned a reputation over the years.
“People were lined up here in the hall waiting by 9:30 a.m., and by a quarter to 10, we opened the doors. We were ready, and by 20 after 10, half of the baking was gone.”
The church was looking for a fundraiser that everyone could enjoy. Who doesn’t like cookies?
“This was something that we as a congregation could do. It wasn’t as time and effort consuming as our dinners which are a lot of work. So this was something we could squeeze in, and it has just grown. It is fun, and it serves a purpose in the community,” explained Simmens.
The church’s visitation committee takes the left-over cookies and delivers them to shut-ins around the area.
“Every year for a number of years the cookies that are left here after this cookie walk will go into cookie tins for people in our church that are shut-ins or older, and not able to bake anymore,” explained committee member Nancy Lourie.
“We also stay and have a short visit with them. Everybody is thrilled with the visit, they wish our visits could be a little longer, but they’re thrilled to get a cookie tin so if somebody comes to visit them, they have something to offer.”
Josephine McCulley not only donates baking, but she buys other people’s baked goods.
“We really come together, and nobody has to be asked twice to donate. It’s a really good, good bunch. And it is for a good cause. It keeps the church going. This is my church. When they built this church, I was working across the street and I told them they would have to give me Sunday’s off. That was 30 years ago,” she laughed.
Money raised goes to the church’s general fund to keep the lights on.
“It was a finance committee initiative. It allows people to contribute, and enjoy doing it. This is a win-win situation where the people feel good about getting involved, it is a lot of fun and we make money,” said Dave Robinson, chair of the finance committee.
The walk brings out a number of repeat customers, who promise to be back earlier next year.
