The Past, Present and Future Of Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale

We are halfway through Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale season!  With three online promotions and four bake table events under belt, I'm pleased to announce we have raised almost 25% of our intended goal.  You may be thinking this number is a tad off for a halfway mark but as they say, the best is yet to come. 



We are currently promoting our last (we think) online promotion of the season.  Cookies With Care has been the most anticipated online promotion we've run as it incorporates Lazarus House, one of our area's most prominent anti-hunger/poverty organizations  This incredible organization is one that, like Share Our Strength, seeks to provide, create and maintain "long term solutions" to the issues of hunger, poverty and homelessness that face our community.  I am thrilled to announce that we've received a very positive early response.

We are also looking forward to three, yes I said three, bake table events during the month of July.  In our "2011 GABS Summary" page you can find all the pertinent information to attend one of these illustrious events! However, to give you a bit of an overview of what to expect.... We will be revisiting the North Andover Common this coming weekend for the 4th of July celebrations.  We have also made plans to team up with The Meat House located in The Vinyard plaza.  How can you go wrong when you mix wine, BBQ and cookies am I right?!  We have also been invited to join the Great American Bake Sale over at Philips Medical in Andover, MA.  This event I am so excited for!  The woman (or possibly one of the woman) hosting this event is none other then Eve Lee who I volunteered for over at Taste of the Nation Boston.  She is an avid Share Our Strength supporter and a veteran of Great American Bake Sale.  To be a part of her bake sale will certainly kick some serious butt!

And now, our Great American Bake Sale season finale..... the Great American Golf Tournament!  Thanks to my wonderful husband we have gone head first into the plannings of what we hope to become an annual event in our GABS.  We will need volunteers!!  We could also use as much help as can be spared spreading the news across various platforms of social media, so get your RT/Share/Like fingers ready!  Check out our GAGT page in the link above for specifics, registration links and sponsor info.  AND REMEMBER! We are selling dinner tickets to the event.....not playing golf is not an excuse ;)

So that wraps up our segment on the past, present and future of our 2011 GABS.  We hope to see one (at least one) of you at an upcoming event and extend our eternal gratitude to everyone who has already participated in Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale.

Wishing you all an incredible week! ~ Michele :)

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Cookies With Care

A few months after opening our doors we stumbled across a bag of Dominos Sugar with a promotion for Great American Bake Sale during a late night pit stop for supplies.  Not only did this simple little promotion ignite in myself, my family and all of us involved with Cookie Central the want help the children struggling with hunger, but it gave us a plan how to do just that.  As our online promotions for the 2011 season draw to an end, we at Cookie Central wanted to do just a little bit more for those living in our own community and have decided to combine our efforts for Share Our Strength with the efforts of Lazarus House Ministries one of Merrimack Valleys most incredible anti-hunger/poverty organizations. 

During their more than 25 years, Lazarus House has grown from a homeless shelter to encompass dozens of programs and services designed to help individuals and families find shelter during the worst of times and build for themselves a secure and poverty free life. What's truly impressive is that, receiving less than 1% of their funds from government agencies, it is hundreds of individuals, families, businesses, corporations and organizations that constitute the funds and supplies used to provide these substantially successful programs and services. As was so eloquently said Lazarus House Ministries Overview 2010 video "We at Lazarus House have nothing to give but other people's goodness"

I am beyond thrilled to announce that this month's online promotion Cookies With Care will give people a way to show their support for the incredible people at Capernaum Place working to break free from poverty, hunger and homelessness. 

*Cookies With Care*

June 20th - July 29th

 
To purchase your Cookies With Care package today simply visit The Cookie Central Team Page and donate $20.00.  Each care package will contain 1 1/2 Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies and 4 Classic Brownies.  Packages will be delivered to the individuals and families residing at Capernaum Place.

A special thank you to the folks at Lazarus House for all their help and support getting this promotion up and running!

 

 --->Order Here <---

Fighting Homelessness In Our Community: Capernaum Place

There is no doubt of how profoundly Lazarus House Ministries has impacted the lives of those they serve. During their more than 25 years, Lazarus House has grown from a homeless shelter to encompass dozens of programs and services designed to help individuals and families find shelter during the worst of times and build for themselves a secure and poverty free life. What's truly impressive is that, receiving less than 1% of their funds from government agencies, it is hundreds of individuals, families, businesses, corporations and organizations that constitute the funds and supplies used to provide these substantially successful programs and services. As was so eloquently said Lazarus House Ministries Overview 2010 video "We at Lazarus House have nothing to give but other people's goodness".

Capernaum Place is one of Lazarus House Ministries' incredible services "a place of transition where one can live securely and privately while building the skills and saving money for permanent, independent housing". Like all the programs Lazarus House offers, Capernaum Place provides people with the motivation, education and life skills workshops needed to maintain a poverty free life.

It is required that those living in Capernaum Place want to move out of poverty and are willing to put forth the effort to achieve that goal. To move forward is a requirement. With the motivation of two employed case workers', multiple educational and life skills workshops residents acquire the tools needed to maintain a poverty free life. It is a coveted position and the residents know they must work hard to achieve their goals. A 6 month lease that must be renewed to utilize the maximum 2 year stay, stresses the inevitable end to their stay at Capernaum Place. What was wonderful to learn is the hard work required for those living at Capernaum is seen as opportunity. For many of the residents their goal is to provide their child(ren), when arriving at Capernaum they have the knowledge that this goal will be attained and the effort they put forth is done with determination.


"Coming to Capernaum Place was like getting another chance at life and a chance at being successful and not have to look at homelessness once we leave here"


Life Skills Workshops are offered which teach basic life skills such as budgeting, time management, nutrition and child care. Leaderships Skills programs are also offered to the high school youth living at Capernaum Place. The culmination of the programs offered prepare the residents to be successful with an independent life, "This is a very good program...the Life Skills Workshops, I have put my bills in my name and they are preparing me for the future."

To be given the opportunity to take the stress of poverty and homelessness away is not taken for granted by those living at Capernaum Place. Their accomplishments are strewn over the walls of the meeting room. Residents write weekly achievements on sticky notes which are proudly displayed in clusters on the walls. To see the transition is incredible. To see the gratitude, hope and inspiration in each note was heartwarming. Acquired jobs, up-to-date finances, and my favorite "I graduated and completed my CNA. I got permanent housing now and I'm not homeless anymore."

Capernaum Place is home to individuals and families that are working hard everyday to break the cycle of poverty. People who strive to do more, who find success where they never thought they could, to provide their child with a life they never had. This is a haven for those who want to build a better life and with a 90% success rate of guests moving on to permanent housing it is invaluable.


To Learn More About Lazarus House and their phenomenal programs please visit:
www.lazarushouse.org or call (978) 689-8575 

 

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Cookie Central will host the online promotion Cookies With Care in an effort to acknowledge the residents of Capernum Place and the successes they have achieved.

From June 20th until July 29th, people will be able to show their support by purchasing a special care package.  Each care package will contain 1 1/2 Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies and 4 Classic Brownies at the cost of $20.00 per package. 

Cookies With Care is a part ouf our 2011 Great American Bake Sale campaign.

100% of the funds raised will help to feed hungry kids where they live, learn and play.

While this campaign does not begin for a few more weeks, we welcome early orders!