The writer of one of my very favorite food blogs, The Perfect Pantry, every year hosts a "Drop in and Decorate" party at which folks get together and create brightly decorated holiday cookies for those in need.
Last year at her gathering, 45 adults and teens decorated 650 cookies that were donated to shelters serving women and children who are the victims of domestic violence, to a local food pantry, and to a short-term emergency shelter in their area.
So often when people in need receive aid, it is generic, undifferentiated, basic. I love the idea of families and children receiving instead brightly colored cellophane packages of these hand-crafted, bright, joyous cookies tied lovingly with ribbon attaching a note that says "Made by friends in Glocester, RI with natural ingredients and love."
If you'd like to host a "drop in and decorate" party, Lydia has created a fantastic "how-to" guide here.
It sounds like fun! I do hope my friend Lucy who can bake perfect bundt cakes even with her eyes closed and with no flour or bundt pan or oven will hold one and invite me... [My new year's resolution is to be really specific about what I'm wishing for. I'm just practicing... smile]. Bake on!
Image from here.
I LOVE this idea. They're doing a cookie swap at work...but the last thing J and I need to be consuming over my two-week Winter break is SIX DOZEN cookies. Now, if they'd said make six dozen cookies for a good cause, I'd have been all over it.
Posted by: Marilyn | 10 December 2006 at 19:49
Patti, a thousand thanks for this! Here's a quick update, as our Drop In event just concluded: 650 cookies decorated by 50 volunteers, distributed to two food pantries and seven family emergency shelters. I'll be posting more photos from this year on my web site by the end of this week.
Posted by: Lydia | 11 December 2006 at 17:46
Dear Lyd,
Congratulations on another successful Drop In & Decorate! Mark and I are so sad that house projects kept us away - but it is on the calendar already for 2007! Your commitment to good, community, creativity and fun just coontinue to amaze me!
Congratulations and much love, The Ornstedts!
Posted by: Eve | 12 December 2006 at 10:15
Ooooo that's a good resolution to start 2007 with! I, specifically, really want a ton of those cookies! I'm going for the whole "less work, more play" angle. You should enter yours over here: http://newyearresolutionblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/win-night-at-movies.html Who couldn't use a free night out?
Posted by: Maria | 12 December 2006 at 11:09
What an awesome way to spread holiday cheer and bring a smile to those in need of one! Thanks for reminding us what matters most at this time of year!
Posted by: Joy | 13 December 2006 at 01:15
Your blog is always the first I read for heartfelt inspiration. I wanted to give back this time of year and the timing on your Drop In & Decorate party is perfect. I'm going to try to scramble some folks for this in the next week. Thanks for passing this on.
Posted by: Josiane Feigon | 13 December 2006 at 10:25
another of those strange coincidences that you and i seem to be a part of ::g::
My son, Hayden, found this online today and sent me one... you should send some too!
http://www.theoworlds.com/christmas/index.asp?CardID=61584
~d xoxo
Posted by: diana jenner | 14 December 2006 at 01:35
The photos from this year's Drop In are now posted on my web site: http://www.ninecooks.com/dropinphotos.html.
Thanks again for helping to spread the word!
Happy holidays to all.....
Posted by: Lydia | 21 December 2006 at 09:17