OCEAN CITY – The kitchen at St. Peter’s UMC was running at full force on Monday morning, August 7, as the “Kookie Kids” team shaped, baked, and packed over 2,000 cookies destined for sale at the following Wednesday’s Farmers Market. Kookie Kids, as the name implies, are a charitable foundation run by kids for kids. Started as a creative and generous outlet for local children, Kookie Kids continued this spirit for its second summer looking to serve the community.
Pioneered by Katie Bowman, Kookie Kids began in 2016. Bowman, at 13, was a year too young to begin a summer job. Rather than see that time go to waste, she founded her own charity with support from St. Peter’s UMC. After its inaugural year, Kookie Kids has donated over $3,000, and is in no way slowing down. This year, Bowman’s sister Kelsea and her friends lead the cookie baking.
Kookie Kids are committed to their slogan “Kids Helping Kids.” In 2016, profits were donated to three different funds for children: The Randle’s Boys Foundation, which helps brothers Colin and Sean Randles in their fight against Cystic Fibrosis, Family Promise, an organization raising money for families facing homelessness, and a personal sponsorship for Karien, a Dominican girl learning English. This summer, Kookie Kids continue their commitment to these charitable funds and are expanded to help others in need.
St. Peter’s proudly supports Kookie Kids’ charitable cause. Having access to the Church’s Health Certified Kitchen and aid from church members has allowed the organization a clean an efficient workplace to bake batches of delicious cookies.
This article originally appeared on OCNJdaily.com