Elsinore High Bake Sale Benefits 'Cookies For Kids Cancer'

It’s the last week of school and  a group of enthusiastic students  from Elsinore High School are one out of 50 groups across the United States that were baking cookies to help raise awareness and money for  an organization called  "Cookies for Kids Cancer."

While their own 2-year-old son is undergoing cancer treatment, Gretchen and Larry Witt were shocked to learn that the main reason over 25 percent of kids diagnosed with cancer do not survive is because of a lack of funding needed for therapies. 

They decided they needed to get involved and do something to help.  They had an idea for a huge bake sale to make 96,000, all natural gourmet cookies, with the help of family and friends. They sold all the cookies in just three weeks with the help of 250 volunteers. 

They raised $400,000 for pediatric cancer research and what started as a desperate attempt to raise the money and awareness of childhood cancer became something much bigger. This event was the beginning of the Cookies for Kids Cancer organization, founded in 2008.

Sadly, their son, Liam lost his 4-year battle with cancer at the age of 6 ½. Though devastated by his loss, the family remains determined to continue the fight against pediatric cancer.

According to their website, www.Cookiesforkidscancer.org,"Cookies for Kids Cancer is committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. Through the concept of local bake sales, Cookies for Kids Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities, and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer."

The students at Elsinore High are all pulling different shifts throughout the week to sell homemade cookies to fellow students, teachers, family and friends. Their goal is to raise $500 for Cancer for Kids and pediatric research. The GLAD Products Company is matching the sales for the month of May.

The group is being directed by Ryan Klopp, a teacher at Elsinore High School. Klopp is head of the National Honor Society and said the project is good for his students to pick up some community service hours.

Klopp heard about the program and saw how easy it was to participate.

"It was a great way to end the year on a positive note," Klopp said. "I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old and I would hope that if I ever needed this kind of help it would be available.

"You do not know what you might need in the future and helping kids is helping kids and always a good thing to do."

As a team, his class set up a table in the courtyard after school Monday and the customers were rolling in, spending money and enjoying the sweet treats.

They are also taking donations from those who want to help but don't want to eat cookies. Their delicious baked goods included chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, chocolate peanut butter, pumpkin oatmeal and brownies and cupcakes. They even had some pumpkin cheesecake that was a popular item.

Two of the students baked for five hours to contribute 200 cupcakes and around 300 cookies to the sale. Many others said they will contribute for the coming days of the sale. Each day’s treats will be different; so be sure to stop by and get some cookies.

Tori Olsen, a student volunteer, says, "I love baking, so for me it was easy to get involved."

Carolina Lopez, who was a very enthusiastic sales person, said,"‘I like being involved in the sales, it is good to get EHS involved in the community. Knowing we are helping kids worldwide makes us know this is not a self- serving event."

The sale is located outside the office on the Elsinore High campus.

May 23-24:  Bake sale will run from 2:30 to 3:30.

May 25-26:  Bake sale will run from  12:00 to 12:45.

If you would like to plan an event in your neighborhood you can order a bake sale kit from the Cookies for Kids Cancer website. The kit comes with logo stickers for the cookies bags and other forms of advertisement to decorate your sale table.  The website  provides delicious and easy recipes for you to use.

You can also send these delicious all natural gourmet cookies to others throughout the year from the website whenever you need a special gift. www.cookiesforkidscancer.org.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501(c) 3 public charity and donations are tax deductible