A Look At Our Last 3 Great American Bake Sale Events

Once again it has been altogether way to long since our last post, 

but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy!

Community Bake Walk for No Kid Hungry
This event was born out of the idea 'We don't have a store front, so let's borrow everyone else's.  In a nut shell, we supplied businesses with cookies while they took donations for Share Our Strength - You can check out the complete details for the bake walk HERE.  I'm thrilled to say the 8 participating businesses raised over $500....enough to get me to donate my hair (eeep!). Check out the before and after below and if you don't like the new do just go ahead and keep it to yourself - or lie to me, that would work too!

Special thanks to Greta Rybus of Greta Rybus Photography for supplying the before picture.

A BIG congratulations to W.J. Grosvenor & Co. raising over $350!!  These guys were pushing the cookies before I even left the building, so it shouldn't surprise anyone when I say they won our event contest *Dessert Party For Your Crew*. 

W.J. Grosvenor & Co. collecting their first donation!

Sad you missed out? No worries, we will absolutely be revisiting this event in 2013!

Gifting For Hunger - Take 2
Throughout the month of July we donated 50% of every order placed where people mentioned (and didn't even need to be exact with the name) 'Gifting For Hunger'.  While we did okay raising a little more that $300, I'm thinking we may need to just donate 50% of all order regardless of who mentions what to whom.....take the stress of the customer, if you know what I mean.

Gifting For Hunger

A Quick Note From The Cookie Lady
While raising money for hungry kids is an obvious motivating factor for what we do, this is certainly not the sole purpose of our campaign!  A big part of the reason we fundraise for Share Our Strength with Great American Bake Sale and Taste of the Nation is because we want to educate people, families, children....everyone.... about the prevalent issue of  childhood hunger in our country and to help connect hungry children (and adults) both in our community and across the nation to the abundance of programs that offer nutritious food and/or food nutrition programs.

With our online promotions we try to provide an easy way for people to learn more and hopefully share with others.  What we've found is that these are the events that don't to quite as well as others (hazard of not having ooey gooey goodies to push maybe?). That said, we want your feedback!  Do you have a creative, fun and easy way to educate people online?  Let us know at mycookiecentral@gmail.com.  I can tell you right now, I have a feeling this has the making of a contest for some free baked product from yours truly so don't be shy!

Our July 4th Great American Bake Sale
Hot. Hot and humid.  Hot and humid with a quick storm thrown in (for good measure).  I complain but really we had a great time.  Our 50/50 raffle, which included $75 and our No Kid Hungry Pig to the winner, was won by none other that 'Pickles', the man with the tractor - I kid you not.  I was also joined by my wonderfully, amazing husband who, after working 38 straight hours at the fire department, showed up and stayed the whole 9 hours....I'll pause while you all applaud.  We were also joined by Allie, the newest addition to our youth.  These three girls had one job - sell 50/50 raffle tickets - and you know what? They sold $150 worth!  Find pictures from the day on the Cookie Central Fan Page

Cake In A Jar

Healthy Food For Hungry Kids

Millions of Children Rely on School Meals

Throughout the school year, hungry kids have access to two wonderful programs - School Breakfast & School Lunch - both of which are offered at a free or reduced price to eligible families that are having a hard time making ends meet.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP) "A family with 2 kids— one in elementary school and the other in middle school— that eat free breakfast and lunch at school every day would save around $1655 over the course of the school year."  For many families, assistance is crucial.

So what happens when these children get out of school?
Throughout the summer all over the country community centers, YMCAs, churches and more band together to make sure children who rely on school meals can still gain access to nutritious food during the summer months.  These Summer Meals Centers offer a safe location for any child under the age of 18 to receive a free meal, which is often paired with educational and recreational activities.

Many of the children who need Summer Meals never receive them. 
One of the most common reasons is because children and their families simply do not know these meal centers exist.  I ask that you please take a moment before you don your shades and enjoy the sun and share this information.

Help connect hungry kids with healthy food this summer.

Here is a virtual map of our country. 

You can find summer meals sites in your area by clicking on your state.

If you live in The Merrimack Valley (MA) You Can Find Summer Meals In:

Methuen:

• JFK Park 1 Tudor St.
• Jade Street Park 25 Jade Street
• Tenney Street Park 141 Tenney Street

Haverhill:

• Plugs Pond 119 Mill Street
• Haverhill Highschool 137 Monument Street
• YMCA Haverhill 81 Winter Street
• Consentino School 685 Washington Street

Lawrence:

• Arlington Educational Complex 150 Arlington St.
• S Lawrence East Educ Complex 165 Crawford St.
• Parthum Educational Complex 255 East Haverhill St.
• No Common Educ Complex 233 Haverhill St.
• Leahy School 100 Erving Ave.
• Wetherbee School 75 Newton St.
• Beacon Courts 71 Duckett Ave.
• Merrimack Courts 56 Melvin St.
• Giesler Pool High St.
• Higgins Pool Crawford St.
• Gr. Law. Comm. Boating Prog. 7 Eaton Pl.
• Stadium Courts 179 Osgood St.
• Lawrence High School Campus 70-71 N. Parish Rd.
• Bruce School 135 Butler Street
• Boys and Girls club 136 Water Street
• Food for the World 447 Essex Street
• Hancock Courts 61 Hancock St.
• North Common ParkHaverhill St.
• South Common Park Market Street

If you want to see additional summer meals sites in Massachusetts please visit the Child Nurtition Outreach Program website

Get Ready To Bake Walk!

It's time to hit the streets of North Andover, Billerica & Georgetown for our first ever Community Bake Walk! 

Starting June 13th, businesses throughout our community will join Team Cookie Central in the fight against childhood hunger by offering chocolate chip cookies from Cookie Central in return for $1.00 donations to Share Our Strength.  Really like one of the businesses involved?  Make sure to toss in an extra dollar or two because the location that raises the most money will be receiving a dessert party for their entire crew.

If we raise over $500, I will be visiting participating business 

Nova Salon & Spa to donate my hair to Wigs For Kids!

Take a look below to find location date participation and ways to support these businesses while helping to feed children right here in Massachusetts. 

For directions to any of the locations, please visit the Bake Walk Map.

Who Has The Cookies:

 

 W.J. Grosvenor & Co., Inc.: June 13th - June 15th

If your in need of flooring supplies, tools and/or accessories.

Independent Tire & Auto: June 13th - June 15th

Grab some new tires or an oil change.  Independent Tire & Auto is also collecting old cell phones for the YWCA's battered women's program.

Nova Salon & Day Spa: June 14th - June 16th

Get pampered by Brittany, who will be the one cutting of my locks should we raise over $500!

Georgetown Savings Bank (N. Andover & Georgetown): June 14th - June 16th

Deposit a check, take out a loan, grab a cookie

Bark Of the Town: June 14th - June 16th
No one likes a stinky pooch. Full service grooming on the other hand...now that's alright!

Auto Spa Care Care Center: June 15th - June 17th

We promise to do our best to make sure a bird doesn't do it's business on your car as soon as you leave.

The Champion Factory: June 15th - June 17th

This Friday is movie night for the kiddos! Drop of is 6pm, pick up is 8:30pm.  Oh, it's cheaper than a baby sitter - so you know!

Special thanks to:

 Presenting Sponsor - Gardner Graphics 

Product Sponsor - BJ's Wholesale Club

 

~*~

What Is In A Gift?

What is in a gift?  We give gifts to celebrate milestones, recognize a special occasion, brighten someone's day.  Gifts have become a universal way to say to others, "I'm thinking about you". 

The best gift I was ever given was a KitchenAid mixer from Kohl's.  At the time, I scoffed at my husband (gift giver), giving him only minimal props as the year before that I had received a dust buster - an obvious step in the right direction on his part.  What I didn't realize is what this gift would ultimately create, something we now call Cookie Central.  With that little 4.5Qt. mixer we have built a cookie company, we have provided our community with all the support we can muster, and we have made it our mission to help end childhood hunger in America. 

Share Our Strength was founded on the belief that everyone has a strength to share.  That unappreciated gift (which was given with the intent of getting homemade paste out of it - for the record) opened the door to My strength.  Cookie Central's Great American Bake Sale campaign has grown tenfold, maybe even twentyfold, in it's four years.  Now, as summer approaches, we are commemorating the act of gift giving with our June promotion Gifting for Hunger.  While you may buy many gifts this month, none will be so sweet as feeding a hungry child. 

"Though more than 21 million U.S. kids get free or reduced-price school lunch, just over 3 million of those kids get a free summer meal."

 

Throughout the month of June we will be donating 50% of every order that comes in to Share Our Strength's efforts to ensure hungry children get fed this summer - All you need to do is mention our Gifting For Hunger promotion when placing your order.  

Please help us help the thousands of children who will struggle with hunger this summer, share this with a friend and place our order today!

Learn more about Share Our Strength

Learn more about what we are doing to fight childhood hunger

Important Change To Our Golf Tournament!

We have changed the date of our Great American Golf Tournament!  

Great American Golf Tournament

Bradford Golf Club

Friday, October 12th

12:00 Shotgun

~*~

We also want to remind everyone that our Bake Walk for No Kid Hungry is 2 weeks away!!  

Pop into a participating business June 14th -  June 17th and receive a chocolate chip cookie with your $1 donation.  Give the Bake Walk Map a click to see whose involved, and please feel free to contact us if you would like to add your business to the list!

View Bake Walk For No Kid Hungry 6/15-6/17 in a larger map

A special thank you to all the businesses already involved.

We Bought, We Baked, We Sold

Hosting a Great American Bake Sale is as easy as:

1. Buy
2. Bake
3. Sell



Myself, Mia, Jazmin and my mom Sharon

And that is exactly how we rocked out our bake table at North Andover's 40th Annual Sheep Sheering Festival raising $724 for No Kid Hungry!  Our table was loaded with some incredible product - courtesy of the imagination of my children- and come the end of the day only one basket of assorted goodies was left.    Here are some pictures from the day complete with Bake Sale Tips, of course! (Find the complete Facebook Album HERE).   

*Don't forget to jot down the super easy bake sale sell out recipe down at the bottom of the post*

If your piggybacking on a larger event, incorporate the theme into your bake sale.  Ours was at a sheep shearing festival and let's just say these guys didn't last long

If the kids come, the parents will buy!  Make it bright, put it on a stick and it will sell out every time!

Go subliminal with your messaging - say with apple shaped platters.

Put the kids to work with fun and easy tasks like putting No Kid Hungry stickers on your takeaway bags.

Scatter informational material throughout your table so people can learn while they browse.

We got LOTS of compliments on our individual cupcake packaging.  You can pick these ones up in small batches for cheap money at www.clearbags.com.  FYI - the bags come with both the insert and a small sealing sticker.

Let kids 'Show Their Strength' with a Wall of Hands!

Save on table space by stacking things high! Don't have any tiers? Ask your friends and family - you'd be surprised how many you get!

Make a menu and hang it where everyone can see it!  If you have a lot of items, this is a great way to keep shoppers from being overwhelmed. It also helps when you throw the menu on an obnoxiously bright piece of cardboard ;)

Super Easy Apple Turnovers:
Makes 18

Thank You to Solo Foods for their donation to our 2012 GABS

We took our wicked pain in the neck Apple Turnover recipe and knocked it down to 4 ingredients...Sandra Lee would be proud!



Ingredients:

• Solo Foods Apple Pie Filling
• 1 Package Puff Pastry Sheets (2 Sheets), thawed
•  2 Tbsp. Milk
• Cinnamon Sugar

Directions :

1. Unfold your pastry sheets on a cutting board, cut into 9 squares
2. Put a 1-2 tsp. dollop of Solo Foods Apple Pie Filling in the center of a pastry square.  Fold into a triangle, squeezing the edges together to seal. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat.
3. Brush the tops of your turnovers with milk, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake at 400^ until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool and package. 

 Footnotes:

• Pastry sheets come tri-folded so if you cut along the fold lines, making 9 even squares will be a breeze.

• Make the turnovers ONE at a time!  The longer the filling sits on the dough, the stickier it will become turning your quick and easy fold and pinch turnover into a ooey gooey mess (something we found out shortly after taking this picture...)

• Putting the filling in the fridge beforehand will keep it from oozing out when you are sealing your edges.

Bake Sale Fever!

Our first Great American Bake Sale of the season is on the horizon and there is some serious bake sale fever going on in the Cookie Central kitchen!  We are going absolutely nuts with our menu for the day, incorporating some new fan favorites and lots of things you WILL NOT see on our menu...ever!  We are also highlighting some great new recipes using the enormous amount of product the incredibly generous Solo Foods has donated to our campaign. So bring your empty stomachs to:

Cookie Central's Great American Bake Sale

Sunday, May 20th

10:00am - 4:00pm

on The North Andover Common

Don't forget to check in on FourSquare!!

Oh Yes - These beauties will be there!!

It's been way to long since our last post! 

To follow up real quick regarding where the heck we've been: Did you know we were the Hunger Message Chair for the greatest culinary benefit of all time?  Taste of the Nation Boston took place April 19th at the Hynes Convention Center - and it was spectacular!  

Here we have our Culinary Emcee Tommy Grella yucking it up with Honorary Chef Chairs Gordon Hamersley and Jody Adams.  Stay tuned for the new TOTN Boston YouTube channel where you'll find some incredible footage of the night and interviews with some of Boston's best chefs!

BJ's Wholesale Club's Salem Taste of the Town.

BJ's has been such a huge supporter (and sponsor!) of our Great American Bake Sale campaign.  In fact, it's because of them we have the ability to host as many bake sales and promotions as we do. At this year's Taste of the Town, we decked out our table with all sorts of Great American Bake Sale and Share Our Strength swag and a small jars labeled "Coins For Kids".  Really we expected people to toss in whatever change they had, but it wasn't long before that jar was jam packed with dollars.  Without even asking we raised $60.75.  We also had the pleasure of meeting some really great people like the woman from Head Start who is planing her organizations first participation in a Cooking Matters class and another woman who has been hosting Great American Bake Sales with the children at her school. 

The big push has begun for our Community Bake Walk. If you are a North Andover business and would like to participate (for FREE), please shoot me an email at mycookiecentral@gmail.com.  

Community Bake Walk is scheduled for June 15th - June 17th.  All we need from participants is a small table or counter space to plop down a basket of homemade, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and a donation jar.  Details about the event can be found HERE and a printable registration form can be found HERE

We will be awarding the business that raises the most money with a Dessert Party!!

Great American Golf Tournament is Back!

Join Us:

Friday, July 13th

Bradford Golf Club - Haverhill, MA

1:00pm Shotgun  

>REGISTER NOW<

We are currently looking for a handful of people to help with pre-event planning.  Find a full list of volunteer opportunities HERE and give us a shout if you would like to join Team Cookie Central!

If you would like to donate a gift certificate or product CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to see sponsorship opportunities.

4 Ways To Bake A Difference With Solo Foods

Those of you who follow us on Facebook and Twitter have most likely heard that Solo Foods, huge supporter and corporate sponsor of Great American Bake Sale, has made an incredible donation of products to our 2012 season. With this opportunity we have decided to make it our mission to take each product and create fun new recipes and blog about them!  If you will be Baking a Difference this year please check back in for even more tasty new treats to pop onto your table.  And remember to come visit a Cookie Central Great American Bake Sale to grab one of these treats already made! 

Learn more about Solo Foods, fan them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Register today to host a Great American Bake Sale to support  

Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger in America >> HERE

Chocolate Cherry Bars:   This recipe makes one 13x9 pan of bars and can be easily doubled.  I prefer to cut mine in to 20 squares, package them individually, and sell them for $1.00.

Preheat Oven To: 350

Ingredients:

• 1.5 C. Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
• 1 C. Unsweetened Cocoa
• 4 Eggs
• 1.5 C. Sugar
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp. Almond Extract
• 1 Can Solo Food Cherry Cake & Pastry Filling
• 1/2 Jar Baker Naturals Cherry Pie Filling
  

Directions:

1. Whisk together flour and baking soda.
2. Melt butter in a large, deep pan over medium heat.  Remove from heat and whisk in cocoa until smooth.
3. Whisk in eggs, sugar, pastry filling and extracts.
4. Stir in flour, then pie filling.
5. Spread in a parchment lined 13x9" baking dish. 
6. Bake 40 minutes, rotating halfway.  Cool and cut to desired size.
   

                                                                                                                                                                     

Blueberry Cobbler Bars: My 5 y/o made these all by herself!  While she 'used' 3 cups of pie filling, there was some confusion about how much filling actually made onto the bars, so the recipe was adjusted.  If you find the filling looks a little thin, use more!

Preheat oven to: 375

Ingredients:

• 3 C. Flour
• 1 C. Sugar
• 1 C. Shortening
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1/4tsp. Salt
• Zest of 1 Lemon
• 2 C. Baker Naturals Blueberry Pie Filling
  

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients - NOT the filling -  in a large bowl.  Mix until dough forms. *my daughter found it easiest to use her hands*
2. Spread half the dough in the bottom of a 13x9" parchment lined baking dish. Spread Blueberry Pie Filling evenly over the bottom layer.  Crumble the remaining dough over the top.
3. Rotating halfway through, bake until top is slightly brown, approximately 40 minutes. Cut to desired size

                                                                                                                                                                     

Brown Butter Butterscotch Marshmallow Bars:
 
Ooey, gooey sticky goodness!  Take the time to brown the butter - it makes the bars!

Notes:

• It takes a while for the butter to start to brown, but once it does it goes quick so keep an eye on it!
• Gently swirl in the marshmallow creme through the batter, taking care to to mix it in completely.

Preheat Oven To: 350
Ingredients:

• 2.5 Sticks Unsalted Butter
• 2.25 C. Flour
• 1.5 tsp Baking Powder
• 1.5 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 2 C. Brown Sugar
• 1/2 C. Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 - 11.5oz. Package Butterscotch Chips
• 1 Container Solo Foods Toasted Marshmallow Creme

Directions:

1. In a large shallow pan, cook butter over medium heat until golden brown.
2. Pour brown butter in a mixing bowl, scraping the browned bits of the bottom of the pan as you do.
3. Add sugars and extract and mix on medium-high for 3 minutes.  Add eggs, beat until combined.
4. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Fold in butterscotch chips and marshmallow creme. Spread into a 13x9" parchment lined pan.
5. Bake 40 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cut into desired size.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Rugelach Bars:  
We made these as bars, but they came out really well when we dropped them as cookies too.  To try out the cookie form, drop the batter 2" apart in 1.5" balls on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes...rotating halfway through of course.

Preheat Oven To: 350
Ingredients:

• 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
• 3/4 C. Sugar
• 2 Eggs + 1 Yolk
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• Zest of one Lemon
• 2.5 C. Flour
• 1/4 tsp. Salt   
• 1.5 C. Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 C. Finely Chopped Walnuts
• 2 Tbsp. Brown sugar
• 1 Can Solo Foods Prune Plum Cake & Pastry Filling
• 2 Tbsp. Milk
• 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl mix together Chocolate, Walnuts, Brown Sugar, Prune Filling, Milk, and cinnamon until combined.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes).  Add eggs, yolk, vanilla and zest. Mix well. 
3. Mix in flour and salt until just combined. Gently swirl in the chocolate mixture taking care to not combine completely.
4. Spread in a 13x9" parchment lined baking dish. Bake until center springs back when pressed, approximately 25 minutes.

And The Winner Of Our No Kid Hungry Cookie Jar Is...

Thank You To Everyone Who Participated!

Super Easy Cookie Recipe For Your Great American Bake Sale

So you've registered to host a Great American Bake Sale, now your wondering, "What the heck should I bake?".  Some of the confections you may make will take some time - decorated cookies, cake pops, chocolate covered pretzels.  But not everything needs to be a project.  Sometimes the best sweets are the ones that take no time at all.  Below is a recipe that will cost under $2.00, take less than 15 minutes to put together, and require nothing more than what's pictured to the left.



Don't forget to check out the notes that follow the recipe. Have fun, good luck, and Thank You for helping to fight childhood hunger in America!  

Visit GreatAmericanBakeSale.org to learn more.

Lemon Crackles
Preheat oven to 375^
Makes approximately 36

Ingredients:

18.25oz Yellow Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/3 C. Vegetable Oil
1-2 tsp. Lemon Juice (your preference)
1/3 C. Powdered Sugar (for rolling)


Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients EXCEPT for the confectioners sugar in a bowl. Mix.
2. Drop or use a cookie scoop to form 1-1/2" cookie balls.
3. Roll cookie balls in powdered sugar.
4. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, rotating your sheets halfway through.

Notes:

1. Duncan Hines is a HUGE supporter of Great American Bake Sale - Thrown 'em some love and buy their mix! It only costs about $1.50/box (where I am) and you also get a coupon in your Great American Bake Sale welcome packet.
2. It's important that the cake mix is 18.25 oz.  Many are not, so if you use another brand make sure you check the box before buying.
3. Don't freak out if your dough starts sticky!  The more you mix, the more firm it will get.  If you do, for whatever reason, find yourself with sticky cookie balls just pop them into the fridge for 10-15 minutes before rolling in powdered sugar.
4. Plan ahead.  The unbaked cookie balls (NOT rolled in sugar) will keep in the freezer for about a month.  Make sure to use zip seal freezer bags that are labeled and dated.  Thaw completely before baking.
5. Find some really cheap cello bags, boxes and other various packaging material at Clear Bags

Kicking off the 2012 Great American Bake Sale Season

Whether your 5 or 95, break and bake or bake from scratch, hosting a Great American Bake Sale is a fun and easy way to help in the fight against childhood hunger in America. 

 

 Your bake sale will educate your community about the nearly 15 million of children at risk of hunger in America, it will help Share Our Strength ensure children at risk of hunger have access to the nutritious food they need to live learn and thrive and could very well become a tradition like it has for all of us here at Cookie Central.


Register today to host your very own Great American Bake Sale
  

Important Dates To Remember:

What: Great American Bake Sale Tweet-a-Thon 
When: Wednesday, March 29th 9:00am-9:00pm
Where: Why on Twitter of course!
Why:  To encourage people to host a Great American Bake ale in their community
How:

• Follow @GreatAmBakeSale and @NoKidHungry.
• Retweet messages about Great American Bake Sale from these two accounts.
• Use the hashtags #BakeSale and #NoKidHungry in all your tweets.

Check Out This Link For Tweets You Can Share!

What: National Challenge Weekend
When: Friday, April 20th - Sunday, April 22nd
Where: Where ever your little heart desires!
Why: To see if we can get a bake sale going in every state on the same weekend
How:  

• RSVP
• Register your bake sale
• Login To Customize Your Online Fundraising Page
• Bake, Sell, Donate!

Check Out This Link For Tips, Tricks and Resources For Hosting An Awesome Bake Sale!

Social Media Bookmarks:
Twitter: @GreatAmBakeSale @NoKidHungry
Facebook: GreatAmericanBakeSale
Hashtags: #BakeSale #NoKidHugry #GreatAmBakeSale #Events4NKH


Tips From The Cookie Lady:

Use A Tent:  There are plenty of businesses that would be more than happy to let you borrow theirs.  We, for example, use the BJ's Wholesale Club promotional tent.  It's great exposure for them (as it has their logo on it) and save us from purchasing our own.


. 
Put It On A Stick:  Things on sticks sell!  Whether it's a cookie, a brownie or some other confection, slapping it on a stick is a great way to give it a little flare - and a valid reason to bump up that price a bit.  You can find lollipop/candy sticks in bulk quantities for short money at your local craft store.

Winner of the 2nd annual Take Your Best Shot photo contest!

Deck Out Your Product: Each month during the bake sale season GABS has a Take Your Best Shot Contest.  It's a fun way to get motivated and creative with what you make and how you decorate.  Color and creativity are also a great way to get people to come to your table, stay at your table and (hopefully) spend a little more money.


Go Bakeless: If baking just isn't your thing or maybe you want to try something different, raising funds online is the way to go!  Your online fundraising page has endless possibilities from online raffles, to simply asking for donations through email, Facebook and Twitter.

The Deal With The Apple

 Educate Yourself:  Take some time to learn who Share Our Strength is and how they are ending childhood hunger.  The more you can share with you bake sale visitors, the more inspired they will be to get involved too. Visit the Get Local Map to find hunger facts specific to your area and see what organizations in your community are already benefiting from SOS.

Visit nokidhungry.org and take the No Kid Hungry Pledge Today!

Win Our No Kid Hungry Cookie Jar!

March 1st - March 31st 

a\Donate to
Cookie Central's 4th Annual Great American Bake Sale and be Entered to win our No Kid Hungry Cookie Jar

Which will be loaded with cookies and bars, of course!

 ~*~

How It Works:

Tickets are $1.00 and can be purchased online by

Clicking the Donate Now button below and donating $1.00 (or more) to Team Cookie Central

*You Will Receive A Ticket For Each Dollar You Donate*

~*~

On April 1st my super cute children will 

Draw the winning raffle ticket out of our trusty 

No Kid Hungry Water Jug.  

 ~*~

The drawing will be filmed and posted on our 

YouTube channel, here on our Bake Sale Blog, 

and heck while we're at it the Cookie Central Main Site too.

~*~

100% of your donation will support Share Our Strength's efforts to ensure children at risk of hunger have access to the nutritious food they need to live learn and thrive. 

Questions?

Please contact Michele @

mycookiecentral@gmail.com

Bake Walk For No Kid Hungry - Update 1

Bake Walk for No Kid Hungry may not be for a few more months, but plans are well on their way and we even have a few early registrants! 

Bake Walk Overview:

From June 15th - June 17th, Cookie Central will be providing local area businesses with baskets of our homemade chocolate chip cookies, donation jars and marketing material - Free!  That's right, I said it.  Thanks to Gardner Graphics - Presenting Sponsor and BJ's Wholesale Club - Product Sponsor, we are able to offer event participation for the doughnut...heck we even set everything up for you.  I think it's safe to say this will be the easiest, most cost efficient (ha ha) way to get involved with our Great America Bake Sale campaign.

Our Awesome Presenting Sponsor

Participating Business Requirements:  

We ask that all businesses that would like to participate in our bake walk fill out the Bake Walk Participation Form and provide us with a small table or counter space for the cookies and donation jar.  Cookies are free with a $1.00 donation, or $1.00 that will be donated if you prefer.  100% of the funds raised will be donated! On June 18th (the day after the event) we come collect any remaining cookies, all our materials and the donations - obviously.

All the information you need about the event can also be found by clicking the Bake Walk tab above.

PERKS:  How Can We Not Have Perks, Right?                                                      

We will be including all participating businesses in the "Wonderful Businesses Involved For 2012" Link list located in the left side bar of our blog.  We will also be including mention of all participants registered before May 10th in our Mid-May press release for Bake Walk.

Dessert Party:
We will be providing a dessert party platter to the business that raises the most money!  Assorted cookies, brownies, bars and cupcakes will be delivered right to your business for you and your crew to enjoy, so educate your staff and encourage everyone to get involved.  That said, we also welcome businesses to offer additional in house specials in conjunction with the event. to help raise even more.

The Bake Walk Interactive Map: A great and easy way for people to see whose involved and where they are!  Each participating business will be included on the map.  For those businesses who check that pretty little "Yes" box next to "Are you willing to purchase any remaining cookies", we will also include a picture of your logo with a link back to your website and a brief business description.  This map is public to Google searches and will be published on our main site as well as the Bake Walk landing page shortly.

Click the blue push pins to see the logo and description of the business.


View Bake Walk For No Kid Hungry in a larger map

Taste the Difference at the Nation's Premier Culinary Benefit

I love to eat, but it's not just about the food.  It's about the company kept, the conversations had and the memories made while sitting down to a meal.  Sitting down with my own children, reminds me of when I was young.  My mother frying chicken on the stove top, NPR playing in the background, the smell of the white rice cooking at every meal.  We were - we are - fortunate.  Sure there were, and are still, plenty of nights full of fighting children, burned vegetables and absent family members.  But as I look back I realize, the majority of my fondest memories revolve around the meals I've shared with the people I love.

Picture: www.flickr.com/photos/paghababian

A Nation of Food
If you can picture yourself in a room filled with tables of food prepared by the greatest restaurants in your area then congratulations, you have officially made it to Taste of the Nation.  This culinary benefit to support Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger in America began back in 1988 as most things do, with a small group of restaurants (25 to be exact) coming together to share their love of food and wine in the hopes of making a difference.  A difference they made, raising nearly $250,000 in a single day!  Taste of the Nation has since raised more than $75million and has blossomed into a nationwide movement with nearly 40 events scheduled to be hosted across the country (even one in Canada!). 

Share The Love

Picture: funandfearlessinbeantown.blogspot.com

My first experience with Taste of the Nation was one of glorious overindulgence (as was my second and soon to be third).  I found myself eating things I never thought I would, things I never knew existed and things that I just couldn't help but go back for seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths (yeah, I'm talking about you Wit & Wisdom).  I implore anyone who loves food, GO!  Get a couple of friends, go on your own, rent a party bus and bring everyone....but go. 

Find An Event Near You

Kids For No Kid Hungry

*Sharing Your Strength* is not just for adults  

Cookie Central's Great American Bake Sale is creeping up on it's 4th year and I would like to take a moment to highlight two of the most important people in our campaign - my little girls Jazmin (10) and Mia (5).  From the very first bake sale they have been such a driving force.  From lemonade stands to mini flash mobs, these girls have not only taken part but motivated their friends to help as well.  It's a true testament to how well even the youngest child can understand the hardships hungry children face each day.  

It's Not Just My Kids!
Growing numbers of children and young adults are eager to help in the fight against childhood hunger in America.  And now, with the help of  Sodexo Foundation,  Share Our Strength has released No Kid Hungry 2 and has embraced Share Our Strength's mission to end childhood hunger offering a one stop site full of resources, ideas and inspiration for any young person to make a difference.

Kids Kick Hunger

This portion of the No Kid Hungry 2 website is all about fun easy ways for the elementary school aged child to get involved. Find tool kits on how to collect Coins for Kids, sell Share Our Strength donation pin ups, host a bake sale (my favorite) and so much more.

Leaders Tackle Hunger

This portion of the No Kid Hungry 2 site is perfect for teens, providing tools to build momentum online using Facebook and Twitter as well as great fundraising/awareness raising ideas like The Food Stamp Challenge and (another favorite of mine) The Flash Mob.

Parents & Teachers

Just like it sounds!  Resources and ideas to help us big people inspire, motivate and educate all those little people.