As we kick off 2011, Cookie Cart is excited to announce our new mission statement, which our Board of Directors adopted at the end of 2010.

Centered in a community, nonprofit bakery, Cookie Cart builds better lives by providing meaningful work, life and leadership skills.

The new language reflects an update, not an overhaul of the old mission.  First, we have placed "work" as the lead skill taught in order to reflect its importance and our emphasis.  During their time at Cookie Cart, our youth employees go though our Bakery, 360 Degree and Customer Service programs, where they learn a range of transferable skills.  The vehicle we use to teach those skills is the work our youth employees perform in our bakery- scooping, packaging and selling cookies.  Elevating "work" more accurately reflects our commitment to providing those skills to our employees.

2010 Customer Service Students

The other change to our mission was to move "North Minneapolis" from our mission statement to our values statement.  The board wanted to affirm the organization's unwavering commitment to its home community.  At the same time, we know the need of a supportive first-paid job experience exists in many areas outside of North Minneapolis.  This change removes a geographic restriction and opens the door for Cookie Cart to eventually open a second site in another neighborhood.

Throughout the year, we'll use our newsletter to keep you up to date on our progress and initiatives as we implement this exciting plan. 

Venisha, Chris, and Henry   on Rainy Lake last summer

A Cookie Story

When Venisha Bahr started planning her wedding, one decision that came easy was where she was going to purchase her guests' dessert.  She and her fiancé, Chris, are not big cake lovers, so cookies were the natural choice.  But Venisha didn't want just any cookies at her wedding- they had to be from Cookie Cart.

Cookie Cart cookies hold a special place in Venisha's heart.  Her sister Misty was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2000 and Venisha spent many hours by her side while she received treatments at Memorial Blood Centers.  The sisters would take breaks in the center's lobby where they were provided with an array of refreshments- refreshments that included Cookie Cart cookies.  Over the three years that Misty was treated at MBC, she and Venisha ate an incalculable number of cookies, sometimes guiltily sneaking them while the nurses weren't looking, other times using them as a palette-cleanser after taking an unsavory medication.  The cookies were a bright spot for the sisters during an otherwise difficult time.

Venisha and Misty in Minneapolis in 2001.

Misty lost her battle with cancer in 2003.  In honor of her spirit (and her affinity for sweets), Misty's memory will be celebrated with Cookie Cart cookies at Venisha and Chris's wedding next month.  We at Cookie Cart are honored to be a part of this celebration and all of life's moments that are made just a little bit sweeter with a cookie.

Follow this link for more information on Memorial Blood Centers and its work. 

Still haven't found the perfect Valentine's gift?  Don't worry!  Cookie Cart makes it easy for you to shine on this important day.  Our Valentine cookies are hand decorated by our youth employees and then delivered fresh to your special someone with your gift message.  All you have to do is place the order.  $16 per dozen.