Dec. 21—ORWELL — Country Neighbor’s annual cookie fundraiser featured 38 different varieties this year.
The nonprofit baked more than 750 cookies in one week to ensure freshness.
“We’ve been doing it for over 25 years, making Christmas cookies to order,” said Barbara Klingensmith, president of Country Neighbor.
Proceeds from sales fund the organization’s programs that support those in need.
Fundraising relies on staff and volunteers.
“The board is very supportive of it, and it’s an opportunity for people to see us in a different way as well,” Klingensmith said. “We are an organization for which there is only a limited amount of money available. We like to do things to help ourselves.”
For Country Neighbor, the cookie sale is more than just a holiday tradition. It gives them the financial flexibility to support the community through non-traditional funding sources.
For money received through the senior levy for food delivery, the senior must be 60 years or older to receive meals.
“If you have someone who is 55 and has found themselves in a situation where something is wrong, it gives us the flexibility to do something for them that you normally wouldn’t be able to do,” Klingensmith said.
She said the cookie fundraiser is popular every year.
“We’ve shipped as far as Utah, we’ve shipped to Florida,” Klingensmith said. ‘Actually, an ex-employee from years ago had contacted me. She lives in Elyria, so we had a transportation ride to Cleveland. So we met halfway, where she was driving.”
For many, it is about supporting the organization.
“I think a lot of it is to support us, to support Country Neighbor,” Klingensmith said. “To know that they get something back for their money, but they also know that the money goes to a good cause.”
In addition to the cookie fundraiser, Country Neighbor hosts two other major events throughout the year.
“We have three big events that we do,” Klingensmith said. “We do our golf outing on the third Friday in June. We do our reverse raffle on the last Saturday in September. Then we do our cookies. So those are our three big fundraisers.”
cball@starbeacon.com
