St. Peter’s sets annual cookie walk Dec. 17

The St. Peter’s Episcopal Church cookie walk is set for 8:30 to 11 a.m., or until sold out, Saturday, Dec. 17, in the parish hall. Entrance to the sale will be through St. Peter’s courtyard at Second and Market streets and into the parish hall. Shoppers who have completed their purchases will exit onto Mulberry Street.

With just three days before winter break, school-aged children will likely be among a long line of eager adults at this year’s cookie walk.

“I know from being a teacher for many years that it was hard to do any baking before the end of the school term, so I truly appreciated gifts of home-baked items from my students,” said Pat Casadei, a member of St. Peter’s choir, which conducts the annual sale.

Both children and adults can choose from a wide array of home baking: traditional cookies in holiday shapes decorated with colored sugar; gingerbread cookies; and countless other varieties including coconut macaroons, chocolate peppermint, Mexican wedding cookies, and shortbread cookies, all baked by members of the parish. There will also be specialty items, including fudge and handmade greeting cards.

“Because the cookie walk is just a few days before Christmas, we think this is an ideal time for people who need cookies for family dinners, holiday entertaining and last-minute gifts,” said Joanne Ward, a choir member and coordinator of this year’s sale. Ward’s chocolate chunk toffee cookies, eggnog meltaways, snickerdoodles, cinnamon sugar cookie cutouts, chocolate pinwheels and coffee spice cookies were among the favorites last year.

The price is $10 for a small box of self-selected cookies or $15 for a large box. Cash and checks are accepted. Proceeds will equally benefit the parish choir, and also the Heart and Soul Ministry whose outreach projects include the Little Cupboard.

Returning this year will be a layaway table where shoppers can drop off filled boxes before returning to shop for more. A new feature will be handmade shopping bags for sale at $5, the proceeds going to the Community Resource Center that provides help for local adults and families in need.

While not required, wearing a mask is recommended. “We will limit the number of shoppers to 25 at any one time,” said Ward. “People can browse the cookie tables without having to elbow other shoppers out of the way – a much more relaxed way to shop. This also helps people distance from fellow shoppers during the flu and COVID season.”