Some of the community’s unsung heroes got a sweet surprise Sunday afternoon when members of the First Congregational Church delivered tray after tray of all types of cookies to their offices in the Civic Auditorium.
“We’ve got many, many, many dozen that are going to be delivered to the church on Sunday,” the Rev. Chad Poland, pastor of the church, said last week as details of the project were being finalized. Then, he said he didn’t realize how successful the project would be.
Volunteers from the church already had committed to bring at least 50 dozen cookies for the project, and some members of the project committee were planning to work Sunday afternoon to divide the cookies and arrange them attractively on platters.
By the time church services were over, the congregation had brought in about 75 dozen — 900 — cookies that within 30 minutes had filled 21 large platters.
The congregation initially had planned to be able to take cookies for firefighters at both stations and for police officers on all three shifts.
Poland pointed out that many of the firefighters and police officers will be working on Christmas to keep the community safe and healthy.
“It’s just kind of a thank-you,” Poland had said earlier in the week, “to both acknowledge and give thanks for their work...”
Extra cookies were going to be distributed at the hospital emergency room and nursing homes around Emporia, if there were enough.
The wealth of cookies brought to the church enabled the committee members to take platters to all of the groups above, plus all three nursing stations at Newman Regional Health, the Emporia State University police and city landfill workers, who provide an essential service for area residents.
“I’ll bet nobody ever takes anything to them,” said Lesley Draper, committee chairman, as she filled a platter with cookies.
Draper was helped Sunday afternoon by Candy and Marina Nevarez, Marty and Jane Rodenhouse, Pat Gum, Amanda Logsdon and Aaron Esping “and a lot of unnamed folks who brought cookies,” Poland said.
Poland said that one of the congregation’s goals this year was to become more involved in the community, and Sunday’s activities were part of that plan.
“Jesus commands that we love our neighbor and we believe that should include recognizing some of those who make invaluable contributions to our community,” Poland said.