By: Sonia Mendes
Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation
Sweetening the holidays for the Ottawa Mission
Museum staff member Zoe at last year's inaugral Cookie Day. Photo: Jamie Reardon.
The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is looking to make the holiday season just a little bit sweeter for the homeless in Ottawa.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, the museum will host its second-annual Cookie Day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public is invited to stop in and help bake up some homemade cookies.
"Last year, we baked 400 cookies for donation," says Jamie Reardon, visitor experience assistant at the museum. "We need the public's help to try to break that record this year."
All cookies will be donated to the Ottawa Mission the following day.
"Everybody loves a cookie, so why not give everyone a cookie for New Year's Day?" says Reardon, adding that this year's offerings will include gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies. "It's a nice treat to give to the people who go to the Ottawa Mission."
For participants, Reardon says it's a positive atmosphere for those looking for a sense of community over the holidays, and a small way to give back to those less fortunate.
"I was amazed at the generosity last year," says Reardon. "People were just so generous with their time; families came with their kids, we had senior citizens, we had couples."
Reardon says the event is also a great way to remind children of the importance of sharing with others over the holidays, and all ages are welcome to participate.
"There were age-appropriate tasks for all of the children participating," she says of last year's event. "Little ones can help with things like wrapping the cookies individually for distribution."
Cookie Day is part of the museum's Winter Frolic programming, which runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 7. Visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation as well.
"There are so many ways you can give, but one of the best ways is by donating food, which is something we do really well here."
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