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

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

 

~*~

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.

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.

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