I suggested that maybe she could collect cookies and hand them out earlier in the day or even on the 23rd. I told her I was sure I could collect 1,000 cookies to hand out.
She really liked the idea and started running with it- suggesting the idea to others to get a feel of what would come together.
I committed to collect as many cookies as possible. She got other people to donate candy canes and gifts.
I reached out to my church, FB, and homeschool networks to ask for cookie donations for the homeless.
The response was simply incredible! Over 25 families committed to make cookies and drop them off at my house. From there, the girls and I re-bagged them- combining different cookie types and cramming each sandwich bag full of cookies, so each person could get a full baggie with 3-4 different types of cookies in them.
In total, we had at least 800 cookies. And, this is what that looks like:
It is impossible for me to put into words the joy that filled my heart being able to deliver these cookies to be distributed. Unfortunately, due to the timing of our church, I was unable to actually deliver the cookies to the homeless. But, as I thought about these cookies, I thought about the love that goes into baking. I really do consider baking/cooking to be an act of love. It is hard, monotonous, and requires attention to details. You create something beautiful and delicious out of a few meager ingredients.
Our homeless brothers and sisters got to feel of that love- the love from 25 different families who gave up their time and talents to share with their brothers and sisters who are less fortunate.
When Christ came to change the world, he did not come as a militant dictator or even an elegant statesman. He came in the most humble of circumstances, and he changed the world not by presidential edict, but by showing love and kindness individually to all those who suffered. He blessed the poor, the sick, and the needy one by one.
I know that cookies won't change the world. But, I hope that on the Christmas Eve, that the cookies brought love, and perhaps a little peace, to those who received them. And perhaps, for a moment, it maybe changed their world.
Of the experience, this is what Maureen posted on FB:
If I didn't like to talk so much I'd say "there are just no words for how great this afternoon was" and leave it at that. But I can't leave it at that and...this is long
😃A few months ago one of our dinner donor friends asked me what we were doing for Christmas since our Sunday dinner was falling on Christmas Eve. I told her we may actually NOT do a planned dinner because of the possibilty of not filling that day as well as not having volunteers due to the holiday and we might try to do something spontaneous and unplanned as we did last year. She said "I would LOVE to organize a cookie drive and get ALL my friends to bake Christmas cookies!"-- and it took off from there! As time went on and people asked the same question we told them what the plan was and before we knew it we had a large group who committed to gather early this afternoon for Christmas love and shenanigans! Our "church without walls" happened again this year and that church is AWESOME... We had 800 (that's NOT a typo
😂
❤) homemade fancy Christmas cookies and candies that Christina Marriott was able to collect all separately bagged and festive, some amazing little quiche like appetizers that Hope Stafford made, pigs in a blanket WE made, hot cocoa from OUR Joy, 200 candy canes from Genevee Davenports' family (her hubby who was there with thier kiddos gave one of our kids the coat right off his back, a nice Carhart)...blankets, sleeping bags, socks, handwarmers, hats and gloves and all the usual survival gear we are able to pass out! Cindy Souser paid for a room for a few to share tonight to get them out of the cold... Unbelievably HUGE hearts that we get to rub elbows with...one of our young men living in the tiny homes village came with a big box of wrapped presents so ALL on the hill got a gift from "Santa!" We then went to the Triangle of course with the rest of everything and hung out there for awhile. While it's always fun being with our young friends, the Triangle is often a different reality, a little harsher reality maybe due to the ages of most and the rougher life they live. If shelter is not a reality tonight people may freeze-- literally. It feels hypocritical to say "Merry Christmas" to folks who are suffering, starving, freezing and standing in the cold waiting for a shelter bed that may not even materialize when we get to go home to warmth and creature comforts. The love and joy was palpable today despite all of the above and a reminder as usual of the reason why we're placed here, ALL of us and, if you will, the "reason for the season" that should resonate 365 days a year NOT just during THIS time of the year. We LOVE this life we were blessed with and would not change a thing. The streets and ALL of those IN them are our "happy place." Well...that and the beach
😂...especially now...it's freezing
😖Merry Christmas ALL!
❤
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