Don't give up, you can do it

"Don't give up, you can do it."

Cookie Club has lived by this motto since the day it first opened their oven about ten years ago. Now with cookie dough prices up and delivery charges being added to the bill, it's going to need to stick to it more than ever.

"We might have to raise our prices because cookie dough prices have gone up, plus they've added a fuel surcharge for each delivery, which didn't happen last year," Special Education teacher Sue Janson said.

In April of 2007, the Cookie Club was buying cases of cookies for $43.50 and now, with prices up, they are spending $54.50 on each. Each delivery carries about four cases of cookies with each case containing 240 cookies. With a delivery of frozen cookie dough cases coming weekly from vendor Fraboni's, who is located in Hibbing, Minnesota, Cookie Club will need to add an extra three to four dollars to their budget to go towards the fuel surcharge. Four dollars was the initial charge, but has been lowered to three dollars lately due to the decline in gas process.

"It'd be nice to order more [cookies] but we just don't have the storage room," Mrs. Janson said.

To compensate for the extra money put towards the cookie dough purchases and the fuel surcharge, Cookie Club is considering ways to add to their profit margin.

"A huge part of Cookie Club is that we vote on what or what not to do," Mrs. Janson said. "We're thinking of jumping to 50 cents [per cookie] but Cookie Club hasn't decided for sure yet."

If the Cookie Club does vote to raise prices, it plans to put the price raise in effect soon after the holiday break.

Not only does Cookie Club vote on financial issues, but on ways to help out people in need.

"The kids voted to spend money from the Cookie Club to get a gift for junior Kyle Levanen and today we're voting on what to get." Mrs. Janson said.

"The Cookie Club also voted to spend money on presents to donate to Salvation Army. The group shopped for the

presents and delivered them to the Salvation Army. The students got to see where all of the donations were stored. It was a great experience for all; to be able to help someone else." Mrs. Janson said.

Each week the Cookie Club makes about $200 from cookie sales during the lunch hours on Mondays and Thursdays combined. Without the price increase in effect, a single cookie can be purchased for 35 cents or three cookies can be purchased for $1.00.

If the Cookie Club members vote to raise the cookie price, the extra 15 cents paid per cookie would be beneficial in helping pay for the cookies, classroom supplies, outings and charitable causes.

"The kids bought a freezer with the money they made from cookies for the room so they could store the cookie dough in it." Mrs. Janson said. "And they also bought a DVD player for the TV. We had a premier showing of their movie for the film fest for their parents and the room was jam packed."

Not only is a lot of money required for this line of business, but a good deal of time as well. Cookie Club's oven can only bake three dozen cookies at a time, so in order to make enough cookies to serve all three lunch hours, the baking process has to begin early.

"I usually start [making cookies] around 8:15, and then the students come and take over once they get here. We have a set schedule for selling and baking. Everyone has a job," Mrs. Janson said.

For each lunch hour, nine to twelve dozen cookies are made. Three lunch has fewer people than the five and seven lunches so it gets nine dozen compared to the 10-12 dozen the other lunches get.

Chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, M&M and butter sugar are the usual offers. However, once in a while special orders make an appearance on the list S'more, holiday joy (peppermint) and strawberry shortcake are examples of cookie specials.

"Strawberry shortcake was just a trial. It was $20 more per case and we thought 'Oh my goodness' and Cookie Club voted not to order them again." Mrs. Janson said.

As the Cookie Club's General Manager, Michael's job is to order cookies and supplies, pay the bills and help to sell the cookies to the students.

"I'm doing a great job as Cookie Manager!" Michael said.

He was appointed to the position last year when deemed "Best for the Job" by last year's manager, Randy.

Cookie Club was started as a good way to earn money for their classroom and to allow the kids to become involved in the student body. It is also an opportunity to learn money counting, communication and social skills.

". . . the interactions that our kids have with other students at East is way cool." Mrs. Janson said.