Back in September, at BlogHer Food ’09, I had the distinct pleasure of moderating a panel featuring three bloggers—Pim of Chez Pim, Val of More Than Burnt Toast, and Lydia Walshin of The Perfect Pantry—who talked about how they’re saving the world through their food blogs. The panel was Lydia’s idea, and she used the opportunity to talk about Drop In & Decorate®, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization she founded to help bring happiness to people in difficult circumstances through this simple program.
The idea behind Drop In & Decorate is this: bake some cookies; gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers to decorate the cookies together; and then donate the cookies to a nonprofit agency serving basic human needs in your own community. This program has already touched lives all over the United States and Canada, and before the end of this year, the ten thousandth cookie will be decorated and donated.
If you’d like to host your own Drop In & Decorate event, Pillsbury and Wilton would like to help. Pillsbury has donated 50 VIP coupons, worth $3.00 each, off any Pillsbury product—including sugar cookie mix, icing and flour—to be distributed, first come, first served, while supply lasts, to anyone who plans to host a Drop In & Decorate event (max. 5 coupons per person). And Drop In & Decorate will include a Comfort Grip cookie cutter, donated by Wilton, while their supply lasts.
Write to lydia AT ninecooks DOT com for more info on how to get your free coupons and cookie cutters. And if you need help getting started, visit the Drop In & Decorate website for a free guide with all the information you’ll need to host your party.
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Genie, thank you so much for helping to spread the word about Drop In & Decorate. I’m so grateful to the blog world for embracing this simple idea. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if an inadvertent gardener decorated and donated the 10,000th cookie?!
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 2:37 am
This is perfect Genie!!!!!!
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Thanks, Genie, for your support. Drop In & Decorate is creative, fun and a great way to build community. I’d love them even if I wasn’t Lydia’s husband.
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Drop In & Decorate is one of the most fun things to do! I just had a Drop In party for my birthday. We decorated over 250 cookies for a local food pantry. And while we were at it, we decorated my cake!
on Nov 13th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Lydia, the whole world’s grateful to *you* for getting it started. Thanks for keeping it going, and yes…who knows who that 10,000th cookie decorator will be!
Val, thank you!
Ted, you’re so welcome, and it’s an amazing program. Lydia’s the best!
Lucia, that’s a great idea — what a way to roll in your celebration and something good for your community. I love it!