The community came together during Great Bend’s Home for the Holidays to support the local economy and spread Christmas cheer. What better way to instill the holiday spirit and get people shopping than by offering cookies?
With the help of 19 participating businesses and approximately 150 shoppers, the Great Bend Cookie Contest had a record event on Saturday, Nov. 25, raising $855 for the Barton County Food Bank. Shoppers started their cookie sampling at Cookie Headquarters, Rosewood Furniture Gallery, where they made a $5 contribution to the Barton County Food Bank in order to receive their voting bracelets and list of participating businesses.
Later, with bellies full and their cookie samplings finished, shoppers returned to Cookie Headquarters where they voted for the business that had the best cookie and turned in their drawing tickets supplied at each of the participating businesses.
Prize drawings, furnished by each of the participating businesses, took place after the Home for the Holidays parade in the courthouse square.
With the money raised by the Great Bend Cookie Contest landing at the Barton County Food Bank, the money will ripple down to serve those that need it most. The Food Bank will use the money to purchase canned goods and other non-perishable items needed throughout the year.
Many contributions to the Barton County Food Bank happen during the holiday season. Although supplies typically sustain during the holiday months, supplies quickly diminish after January, Food Bank Director Bob Essmieller said. “There are a few drives that happen through the spring and summer; however, we start to struggle mostly in June and July. Monetary donations help us through those months.”