On December 10, 2011, join Allrecipes, Taste of Home magazine, and Nestlé®, as we spread a little Christmas cookie cheer across America. Here are a few ways to get involved.
Host a Cookie Exchange
If you love baking cookies and gathering with friends and family, this is the event for you. Take the pledge and join us, December 10, 2011, or set your own date during December, and have everyone bring a few dozen of their favorite holiday cookies. Make it a decorating party! Add icing and festive touches.
Then wrap up your cookies for donation and give them to a local food pantry, emergency shelter, senior center, lunch program, or other community agency. Be sure to check first they accept food donations, and ask when they would like delivery.
Hosting an Event is Easy
These hosting tips were provided by our friends at Drop In & Decorate®:
1. Pick a day, time, and place for your event
2. Contact a nonprofit agency
3. Stock up on supplies
4. Bake cookies or ask friends to do the baking
5. Set up for the party
6. Decorate
7. Wrap cookies the next day
8. Deliver the cookies
9. Share your story with others
Organize a Food Drive
Host a food drive that focuses on baking ingredients, then donate items to your local food bank. Open up the food drive to friends, family, and coworkers, along with school, church, and other groups.
Ingredients Most in Need:
- Flour
- Peanut Butter
- Shortening
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
Where to Donate?
- Food pantries, family shelters, senior centers
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- The Ronald McDonald House
Other ideas? Check with your town hall or city government. Search the internet for "human service," "domestic violence," and agencies that meet basic human needs of food and shelter.