The Cornerstone Family and Youth (CFY) organization in Carlyle has been dedicated to providing high-quality youth programming for many years now.
Whether day camps or after school program, library programs or parent and tot adventures, CFY has provided venues and activities that make learning especially fun for young person.
Public support for the active community body is key for it to continue its consistently high-quality programming, and this support came through recently as CFY held a fundraising cookie sale on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Taking a sidewalk-space in front of Flower Focus on Main Street in Carlyle, Jenn Sedor, the project co-ordinator for CFY, and Laurie Bouchard manned a table selling cookies, each bearing a friendly grin, to passer-bys.
The 'Happy Cookies,' as they were dubbed, proved to be a smash hit, and the cookies were sold out before the end of the day.
"It was just amazing how quickly we sold out," said Sedor following the sale. "People were just grabbing them up like crazy."
The volunteers with CFY had prepared more than 150 cookies for sale, and only 12 were remaining by 1:15 p.m. on the day of the sale.
"We actually brought in more money than we thought we would," Sedor said. "A lot of people came along and paid for their cookies with a $20 bill, then refused their change."
More than $250 was raised through the day to support CFY's community programs.
"The success of the sale has led me to thinking about other ways we can raise money in a similar way," Sedor said. "I've been trained in cake decorating and royal icing, so I think what we are going to do next is work those into a program."
"I'm thinking that we will offer a 'free' course for people in decorating and working royal icing, and in return for taking part in the course, the people will be asked to provide some baked goods for another sale," Sedor said. "This way people can pick up some new skills, and we can have some further support for other fundraising programs."
CFY maintains a busy schedule of activities throughout the year.
Starting in the near future, the 'At home alone' course will be offered after school.
Meant to train young people about safety around the home, as well as teach them certain life skills like basic cooking, the program will be offered at a cost of $20 per enrolee.
Another program soon to be offered is an in-depth program for young women, called 'Girl Circle.'
"We are really excited to offer the Girl Circle program," Sedor said. "It is an existing program that we have been able to enrol in for the first time this year."
"The aim of the program is to help young women develop self-esteem and self-awareness," Sedor said. "To help set straight all the body image issues that come up with young women these days, and to also tackle other, more serious issues like drugs, alcohol and sex."
"The program creates a circle of young women so that the support and understanding of peers is present," Sedor said. "As well, the close, closed circle makes it easier to deal with some of the issues that the girls involved are dealing with because they will have a safe place to talk about their concerns."
The Girls Circle program will run for ten weeks, and a $20 fee is required for each entrant.
The first Girls Circle will be limited to just 10 girls, however the program is hoped to be offered again soon, and hopefully for a larger number of young women.
For more information about these programs, or any one of the other programs that CFY offers, please visit www.cfyprograms.com
To enrol in either program, please contact Jenn Sedor at 453-2666
