Thousands of handmade cookies are expected to fly directly from tables decorated by parishioners to boxes carried by customers when Ellijay Good Samaritan Catholic Church hosts its 13th annual Christmas Cookie Walk Saturday, Dec. 14.
The bake sale fundraiser, which will take place in the church’s parish hall at 55 North Church Street starts at 8 a.m. and lasts until all cookies are sold.
It usually pays to get there early in the day as past Cookie Walks have ended early due to all featured treats being sold.
“(These) are the favorite recipes of parishioners, some of which have been handed down through generations. Our goal is to make 20,000 cookies this year,” said Good Samaritan parishioner Judy Fabiniak.
Different size boxes can be filled with cookies and other treats for $5-$25.
“We have some parishioners who do a wonderful job making different ethnic (types) of cookies. We even have pizzelles, which is more of a fried type of cookie that is star shaped,” said Fabiniak.
Previous Cookie Walks have benefited the church’s renovation fund. Since that expense is now taken care of, proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the church youth group’s upcoming mission trip, Fabiniak said.
“The youth group will be working at and setting up (the Cookie Walk),” she added.
The mission trip will find the youth group participating in a work-based service program called “Alive In You.”
“They’ll be going to Tennessee this year. It’s a special program in which they go to work like on any other mission trip,” Fabiniak said.
“Last year, they worked in Florida at a home for people with cerebral palsy. They cleaned up the yard, did some painting and renovation work and (helped) the people there. It’s a wonderful way to give to a community because they are directly impacting someone in need.”
A week’s worth of preparation typically precedes each year’s Cookie Walk, which has become a very popular fundraiser for the downtown Ellijay church.
“We did the decorating this (past) Saturday. They will start baking on Tuesday and bake for (two days). Finishing touches are done on Friday and, by Saturday, we’ll be good to go,” Fabiniak said.
Santa will also be at this year’s event to hear the Christmas wishes of little Cookie Walkers.
“We will not provide any photography, but people can come take pictures and Santa will be available for kids to (visit) with,” Fabiniak noted.