The Nederland Community Presbyterian Church celebrated its first annual Christmas Cookie Contest on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Bakers from all across town worked with sugar, cinnamon, and the holiday spirit and delivered their cookies to the church on Sunday morning to be judged by the community, with all the proceeds for the event going to benefit Rise Against Hunger.

A total of 10 bakers entered the contest with over 15 entries, bringing a variety of options for the judges to munch on. From Mexican hot chocolate cookies and plum thumbprint cookies, to a classic chocolate chip with walnuts and a Filipino ube cookie made with purple yams, the Nederland community showed off their baking skills, all to raise money to fight hunger.

Kaitlin Silbaugh, along with Roxanne Goodwin and fellow members of the church, organized Sunday’s cookie extravaganza. Each contestant was expected to bring three dozen of their cookies between 10 and 11:30 a.m., and to include a list of any allergens, such as dairy, gluten, or nuts.

From noon to 2 p.m., members of the community were treated to more than just cookies. As attendees made their way through each of the displayed contest entries (displayed on reclaimed cedar tables custom-made by Silbaugh herself) the room was also full of friendly conversation, holiday music, and the smell of complimentary coffee and tea donated by New Moon.

The event organizers provided great runner-up prizes for second and third place, including a gift bag full of baking ingredients, and a custom-made Christmas-themed kitchen apron for first place.

Devynn Bulger won third place for their peanut butter cookies; Goodwin won second place for plum thumbprint cookies; and Mary Arao won the coveted first place prize for their ube cookies.

The Nederland Community Presbyterian Church’s first annual Christmas Cookie Contest is just one of many events that the church wishes to hold at their nearly revamped event hall, sanctuary, and auxiliary rooms, available for rent for weddings, anniversary parties, and all kinds of community events.

Rise Against Hunger is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting against poverty and providing those in need with assistance and the tools required to become self-sufficient. Donations collected during the cookie contest are used to provide ingredients and meals for a yearly event in September, where members of the church help to pack over 10,000 meals for those affected by poverty.

For more information go to: https:// www.riseagainsthunger.org. Nederland Community Presbyterian Church is located at 210 North Jefferson Street in Nederland; regular Sunday service is held starting at 10 a.m. For more information call 303-258-3579 or go to: https://www.nederlandpres.org.