Cookie Cafe

H

humility

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
5
After reading Carol Guest's new entry on the Cookie cafe web page http://www.kpcookiecafe.com/index.html I feel compelled to write. What an outrage that she must speak to those who have questioned the validity of where donations are going, (are you really concerned about how much eggs , milk and butter she is buying???)

Those who have been involved with Cookie Cafe know the following to be facts:

1. Carol and Gene Guest and her loyal parent volunteers, work tirelessly, often on a daily basis, to prepare to organize what the Mids describe as the 'Best day of the week at KP"
2. Cookie Cafe gives parents (as far away as Japan) the opportunity to let their son or daughter know they are thinking of them by sending some favorite home baked goods, a birthday cake to mark the day in their absence, or any surprise to brighten their day(one it was even a parent who traveled a long distance themselves!!)
3. Like the environment of Cookie Cafe for the Mids where there are no class restrictions, the parents work together for one sole purpose..... the kids. No one pompously makes it known at every event that they are the 'president' or 'VP' of anything. All parents.. new, old and those from afar, are welcome. You don't need a title, there is no 'pecking order', EVERYTHING is done for the kids.
4. Her BJ's shopping receipts are available for anyone to see

This is in sharp contrast what this parent has experienced over the last 3 years at KP at local and national KP parent events.

Many of those who have put themselves in volunteer positions at KP on the national and local level, must remember that its not about them!! Its not about how many pictures with Sec'y LaHood or ADM Green they may be in, how many pats on the back they can give themselves on parents weekend!!

Is it these same 'fame seekers' that are intent on bringing down those like Carol and Gene offering their time at KP in the true spirit of volunteerism?

Work hard on your efforts but please do not seek to bring down others who are providing such a wonderful service to the entire regiment, and yes, that includes your kids!!!

Do you really need to question if the few dollars donated by appreciative parents ACTUALLY goes to purchase chocolate jimmys or vanilla extract.....please.
Examine your motives ladies and gentlemen and remember what it means to act in the 'spirit of volunteerism'

Perhaps we should all follow the same motto our Mids must 'ACTA NON VERBA'
 
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First let me say I couldn't agree MORE with humility, I don't know whether my DS still goes to cookiecafe or not but as a result of reading this post I followed the link, saw the happy faces - faces of what looks like an average of ~400 midshipmen eating cookies and milk and relaxing weekly. So in the spirit of Acta Non Verba I went to the paypal link and donated $100.00 since I've never taken the time to bake anything for the initiative, etc and it's clearly something that at least 1/3rd of the Regiment of Midshipman take part in and enjoy. As far as I know the only other thing on campus with near that level of voluntary participation is Waterfront Programs.

Given all the Guests do in making this happen I will state publicly here that while I'm pretty sure they will use the $100.00 I just sent for ingredients and milk, etc (My math says from looking at each plate of cookies in the pictures it appears each mid has an average of least 4 cookies and a cup of milk and for 400 mids that comes to ~134 DOZEN cookies and 64 Gallons of Milk so my $100.00 probably isn't going that far.) If somehow they figure out a way to use my $100.00 and donations like it to cover the costs of the Cafe, the ~$15.00 in tolls between their home in NJ and Kings Point and the price of gas to get there and still have some money left over for a big fat extravagant vacation somewhere sunny or an expensive meal somewhere between KP and NJ on their way home - ENJOY THE VACATION/MEAL.

And of course as noted above - thanks for everything you tirelessly do for our kids, and of course the numerous uncounted donations you yourselves make throughout the year to keep this all going.

The mids love cookie cafe - what person that age going through a daily regime that generally burns a couple thousand more calories, than we folks who work at desks jobs do, wouldn't love to chomp down a bunch of cookies and milk. I remember a good friend of mine who would go to the Ships Store every afternoon after class and buy a full package of Double Stuff Oreos and eat them - every day. I know he would have been at the Cookie Cafe every time they had it up until graduation day.
 
Dear Jasper,

Thank you for your donation to CC. As a parent who has the privilege of playing a small part in CC, it is truly inspirational to see how the Mids enjoy and respond to the TLC baked into each cookie from home. I hope others follow your example.

First of all, except for the cookies baked at CC during a few hours, the vast majority of cookies are donated. Therefore the costs primarily go to all the supplies, milk, lemonade, coffee, tea, etc that are consumed during the day. And the students are not the only ones enjoying the goodies - many staff, teachers, maintenance, regimental officers and administrators stop by from time to time. It generates good will throughout the institution. Everyone is welcome to partake. That's no small thing given the beating KP has taken over the years with its financial problems.
But Carol and Gene are not only serving and coordinating cookies. They are ministering to every mid that comes through those doors that needs it. In a response to the question from a parent volunteer to a student, "Are you here for some cookies?", the response was, "Not before I get a hug from Mom Guest."

In reading the justifiable happiness from those parents on this forum whose children did well or survived this trimester, to the sadness from those whose children did not, the Guests are weekly dealing with the emotions coming from the students. They celebrate the happiness of a mid on passing a test or getting an A to trying to find a student tutor for that mid desperate to find a way to pass a subject. They offer a kind word, encouragement and practical advice on any topic the mids are grappling with, not just academics.

I have seen kids come in with tears and leave with an idea how to solve what seems like a hopeless problem, whether it's where to go for academic help or how to tell their parents some uncomfortable news. No student is turned away. And not every problem revolves around academics. You would be surprised the range of social skills. Students might be getting high grades, yet have difficulty making friends. The Guests offer opportunities, especially through CC, for these students to break down some barriers with their fellow students and feel more socially accepted. CC might be the only opportunity all week for those mids to have genuine social interaction. I truly believe that everyone from the top on down to all the parents should be supportive of CC.
 
Enough with the compliments

Thanks guys, but we are only at KP as volunteers for two reasons: we love the students and we love God. It's as simple as that. We do not need recognition or our name on anything. We are there to try to help the students in any way possible.

Please do not knock anyone. I wrote that paragraph on the kpcookiecafe for one reason. There was obviously misinformation and I was concerned that it would affect Cookie Cafe and that would affect the students. My integrity is an open book and everything is open for everyone to see. Jasperdog, I know you were teasing but the truth is if I spent 25 cents on candy for myself from the donated money, I would not be able to sleep that night, I am squeaky clean.

As long as the parents realize that Cookie Cafe was incooperated and PayPal was set up as a desperate move, since no organizations have donated to Cookie Cafe, other than a donation from USSA. It was going to shut down, and no one wanted that. Parents are donating and we have a little over half the money for the year so far, which is great. Thank you very much for not only baking cookies but helping to buy the coffee, milk and paper goods. We all are an equal team together.

Just to let you know how much your kids love Cookie Cafe. This year we have gone up to 540 students in an afternoon. We get over 200 dozen a week of homebaked cookies sent from all over US, and seldom does a student have just 4 cookies on their plate. These come via post office, Fed Ex, UPS and sometimes are even personally delivered to our home. There are two large freezers chugging along full time to keep the cookies fresh. Cookie Cafe has hit the fancy of the school and the parents as a way to show practical love to the students in the middle of each week. Thanks.

Cookie Cafe is about two things only: the students, and the parents showing love to the students. Hundreds of parents are involved, and hundreds of students are benefiting. That's it.
 
Many thanks to the cookie Cafe. My son loves to go. My first box of cookies are on the way. It feels good to know I can make someone else
happy. I only wish I lived closer so I could help out in the cafe. Keep up the good work. Our kids needs you.:shake:
 
Recruitment tool

Cookie Cafe and its atmosphere is a terrific recruitment tool for KP.
Google "Kings Point Spotlight Cookie Cafe" for a glimpse.
 
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