By MADDY VITALE
There was some serious cookie-making going on at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Ocean City on Wednesday.
Volunteers joined for an annual holiday baking event for a good cause. Not only do the cookies purchased become a yummy treat for many, but the proceeds go toward helping kids in the community.
Participants came from Heritage Homestead, an adult daycare program for people with disabilities, and the Ocean City High School’s work-based learning program W.A.V.E.S., as well as Interact Club students at the high school.
Baking and putting stickers and ink designs on cookie containers kept volunteers busy throughout the morning.
The sweet smell of sugar cookies and other confections wafted through the air in and around the church kitchen.
Volunteers scooped dollops of dough onto cookie pans. Others decorated sugar cookies and some created cookies called “pinchies,” which were squishy treats with white powder all over them. Others packaged them up to be sold by Kookie Kids, a charitable foundation run by kids helping kids.
Jen Bowman, an active member of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, located at 501 E. Eighth Street, is also the adult leader of Kookie Kids.
Bowman said of the helpers who attend each year, “This is just so empowering for young adults. It wouldn’t be Christmas without the help of our friends from Heritage Homestead and W.A.V.E.S.”
Bowman’s daughter, Katie, created Kookie Kids nine years ago. On Wednesday, Bowman’s daughter, Kelsea, a senior at Ocean City High School, and her friend and fellow senior, Dan Guy, helped out with cookie baking during their school’s lunch break.
Recently, Kookie Kids donated $250 to Upper Township Challenger Sports and purchased Christmas toys for Waves of Caring. Waves of Caring is a city-sanctioned charity that collects and distributes toys and other gifts around the Christmas holiday for children.
Selling cookies from Wednesday will help continue the donations, Bowman said.
And it wouldn’t be as easy or enjoyable without the help of others.
Heritage Homestead program participants continue to be an important part of the day.
Heritage Homestead is a daycare program in Marmora for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Heritage Homestead Program Director Jacob Johnson said what is so special about helping out with the cookie preparations at St. Pete’s is that it gives the participants a feeling of involvement because they are helping others in the community.
Johnson helped Patrick, one of people from Heritage Homestead, imprint some festive designs on the cookie bags.
Heritage Homestead requested that the last names of people in their program not be published.
Johnson spoke of what the cookie-making day means to those in the program.
“Everyone was so excited to come back to bake again. They look so forward to it. It’s such a good experience for them,” Johnson said. “We try to do a lot of fitness classes and recreational activities. This gives them more of a purpose because they get an opportunity to do something in the community.”
Georgie, a participant from Heritage Homestead, was busy in the kitchen creating angel cookies.
“They’re good for Christmas,” she said of the holiday cookies.
Like W.A.V.E.S. students, Heritage Homestead volunteers can help out once a month if they would like to with the cookie-making, Bowman said.
Jessica DeBiaso, a special education teacher and coordinator of the W.A.V.E. program, said the students really love everything about the day.
DeBiaso and other staff from the school, along with five W.A.V.E.S. students joined in on the fun.
She watched as Jules Sardinas, 19, and Chris Fuentes, 18, put stickers on some of the cookie bags.
“They were so excited to come this year. It’s the first time for Chris,” DeBiaso said.
While this is the kickoff event for the year, there will be other cookie-baking opportunities at St. Pete’s that the students can participate in — once a month in fact — throughout the holiday season.
DeBiaso said her students will definitely want to return.
“It’s fun,” Sardinas said. “I like to make the cookies the best.”
Jen Bowman said in addition to creating cookies to be sold to benefit children, the annual event brings together the two groups of people from the programs.
“What’s really neat about today is some W.A.V.E.S. students have aged-out and now they’re in Heritage Homestead,” she said. “Today is like a reunion for them. They see old teachers and aides. They enjoy the day and their help is appreciated. They are very capable young adults.”
Cookies are available for sale in the church lobby for $5 a container Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call the church office at 609-399-2988.
