Leesburg Students Bake Cookies To Raise Funds For Afghan Children

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer-

LEESBURG - Fifth-graders at Leesburg Elementary are trying to make a difference in the lives of children half a world away - by making and selling hundreds of "monster" cookies.

According to Samantha Pierog, 10-1/2, "When President Bush told all kids to send $1 for the Red Cross, the fifth-grade students and teachers decided to make monster cookies and sell them for $1."

The kids gathered in Leesburg's cafeteria after school this week to bake the cookies; so far they have approximately 500, but are planning to make more.

"We just thought it would be a nice idea, a kind idea," said Nicole Kuhn, 11, of selling the cookies to raise money to help children in Afghanistan.

But making and selling the oatmeal-and-chocolate-chip cookies is not all the Leesburg students are doing. According to teacher Marsha Cook, the students decided this year that instead of exchanging gifts for Christmas, they would donate items for kids overseas.

For "Operation Christmas Child," each class is putting together five shoeboxes, with each one containing small toys, school supplies and personal items - anything that can fit inside a shoebox, Cook said.

And they're also writing letters and are still bringing in money for the Red Cross, she said.

"We're doing more giving than taking this year," Cook said.

Besides Cook, the other fifth-grade teachers are Rod Teeple and Teresa Schmidt. [[In-content Ad]]

LEESBURG - Fifth-graders at Leesburg Elementary are trying to make a difference in the lives of children half a world away - by making and selling hundreds of "monster" cookies.

According to Samantha Pierog, 10-1/2, "When President Bush told all kids to send $1 for the Red Cross, the fifth-grade students and teachers decided to make monster cookies and sell them for $1."

The kids gathered in Leesburg's cafeteria after school this week to bake the cookies; so far they have approximately 500, but are planning to make more.

"We just thought it would be a nice idea, a kind idea," said Nicole Kuhn, 11, of selling the cookies to raise money to help children in Afghanistan.

But making and selling the oatmeal-and-chocolate-chip cookies is not all the Leesburg students are doing. According to teacher Marsha Cook, the students decided this year that instead of exchanging gifts for Christmas, they would donate items for kids overseas.

For "Operation Christmas Child," each class is putting together five shoeboxes, with each one containing small toys, school supplies and personal items - anything that can fit inside a shoebox, Cook said.

And they're also writing letters and are still bringing in money for the Red Cross, she said.

"We're doing more giving than taking this year," Cook said.

Besides Cook, the other fifth-grade teachers are Rod Teeple and Teresa Schmidt. [[In-content Ad]]

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission
Syracuse Variances

Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission
Syracuse Exceptions

Court news 05.03.25
The following people have filed for marriage licenses with Kosciusko County Clerk Melissa Boggs:

Public Occurrences 05.03.25
County Jail Bookings The following people were arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail:

Understanding Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) And Using Them
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are for people over the age of 70.5 years old. Unlike other distributions, which are taxed at ordinary income tax rates, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) allow for a tax-free distribution from an IRA, provided that the distribution goes directly to a qualified charity.