More than 100 people woke up early to wait in the cold for the opening of the 18th Annual Hospice of the Calumet Area Cookie Walk on Saturday morning. It has become a tradition of the community to support the HCA’s efforts through donations, time volunteered, and a friendly competition for who could produce the best cookies. This year, they were joined by a representative from Strack & Van Til who was excited to make a contribution.
Rows and rows of fresh-baked, donated cookies were hosted in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster. Some volunteers were still in the kitchens, making more.
"It’s a work of love," explained Volunteer Coordinator Cynthia Camp. "These are bakers who love baking and the people who love to buy their cookies. It’s a cherished event to the community."
Volunteer Marilyn Kmak spent hours making little dolls called "Hushkins" to sell. It is a time consuming project but a satisfying one. “I think it’s important to do this because it is a means of raising more funds for the Hospice. There’s a lot of people that could not otherwise afford the services the hospice provides.”
“They just do such fantastic work,” agreed loyal cookie walk patron Cathy Booker. “I’ve had family and friends that needed hospice care and it’s good to know that they will be taken care of.”
Strack & Van Til has several criteria they use when deciding which non profits to donate to. “We want to help kids, women, and medical facilities,” said Ashleigh Marlow, the Centralized Orientation Specialist. “The Hospice fits exactly what we are looking for. And they make fundraising fun.”
Executive Director of the HCA Adrianne May said, “We do it to help funds go to care for people and to keep our projects going. It is a fun way to be a part of the community. [Strack and Van Til] has been very supportive of our organization. What is most important is raising awareness.”
That is why Strack and Van Til presented the Hospice team with a $3,000 dollar check just before the doors opened for the Cookie Walk. It was a great way to kick off the fundraiser, and get already high spirits even higher.