Cookie Exchange with a Twist - Inspired by Family

You can follow along via: Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook and our readers preferred way via email.

Why don’t you try a cookie exchange with a twist this holiday season? Host a cookie exchange with your group of friends. Ask everyone to bring a dozen cookies and then as usual in cookie exchanges you pick one cookie from each plate that was brought. Here’s the twist: This time instead of taking the cookies home for yourself individually package them and pass them out to someone in need! Turn this traditional Christmas event into an opportunity to share the yumminess. Here’s a great Gingerbread Cookie Recipe you can make!

What we will do is take our cookies in the car when we go out around town and when we see a person in need (homeless, begging…) then we will hand them a treat! We usually make this an outing and drive around areas with people in need on the street. (Make sure it’s places you feel comfortable driving and rolling your window down.)

Other ideas on where to giveaway your cookies:

Home for senior citizens
Home for children
Low income daycare center (we did this one year brought them a gently used book and a goody)
Shelter

I would add when you are giving your treat to the homeless or street kids make sure you make eye contact, smile and hand them a treat. I received this advice from a former street kid: He said they are ignored all day by people who don’t want to be reminded of poverty, who don’t/can’t give or help them or who are embarrassed and angered by them so these people choose to just not look at them. The homeless, street kids want to be treated like people and acknowledged. Even when they are begging and you don’t or can’t help them out, still make eye contact with them and kindly say no.

As shown in the picture below, package your cookies. I have two versions of packaging to share one is easy but it takes a tad bit more time because you need to sew two pieces of wax paper together to create this adorable see thru packaging. See below for details. The other version is simple and quick: use small paper bags, hole punch the top and add cute ribbon!

Wax Paper Favor Bags Supplies:

2 long pieces of wax paper
Sewing machine
ribbon

1. Fold the long piece of wax paper in half. Then fold in thirds to create your pockets as shown.

2. Sew up and down each row starting with the outside of the circle.

3. Cut the top of each row to create your opening.

4. Hole punch the top and add your ribbon and tag.

Enjoy sharing of your blessings with others and involving your family in the process.

Thank you Stacy from Kids Stuff World for letting me be a part of this wonderful collaboration of 31 Days of Service! If you haven’t gotten to know Stacy and her blog yet you should stop by. She’s one of those people that makes you wish you could meet them in person!