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03/22/2022 12:00 AMIt can be a frustrating and difficult task to process one’s lack of ability to help or reach out when world events bring horror and tragedy to the doorstep. However, Emily and Thomas Steffen and their family didn’t allow that to stop them and the family immediately began trying to devise a way in which they could help those half a world away in Ukraine.
The devastation the family witnessed on news reports spurred them to act, according to Emily Steffen. As their frustration mounted over the helplessness they felt, they forged the idea of a fundraiser for the people of Ukraine to counter that.
“When everything started happening on the 24th [of February], it made us sick seeing the news and with each day it just seemed to be getting worse,” said Steffen. “So, I was talking to my sister on the phone, who lives in Oregon, and just kind of saying, ‘What can we do, how can we help?’ And she had the idea in her community of a cookie dough fundraiser, and I thought that was a great idea. I can’t do a lot of things, but I can make cookies. So, we brought that idea to the East Coast. She is doing out west in Eugene, Oregon, and we’re implementing her on the shoreline in Connecticut.”
The Steffens are not of Ukrainian heritage, but Emily Steffen said they simply couldn’t watch from the sidelines on this issue and felt compelled to help in any way they could. The entire family, including their four children Max, Owen, Alice, and Lucy, have all been busy helping mom and dad package the dough as part of the family effort.
“We are not Ukrainian, but we just saw what was going on and wanted to help,” said Emily Steffen. “As I was watching the news and yes this was thousands of miles away, but when I saw mothers, and children, fathers, brothers, families being separated, that made it feel like a very human issue, not an American issue or a Ukrainian issue.
“Their way of life was obliterated in a day and that just felt a very pertinent and personal issue to me, even though we are not Ukrainian. So, we wanted our kids to know that no matter who you are-you can use whatever you have and whatever you are to help, even if it’s half a world away,” she continued. “There’s always something you can do, and for us it’s cookie dough to help Ukraine.”
The Steffens created the idea to make frozen cookie dough available to residents for $20 and use for Ukrainian relief.
“We got this in motion pretty quickly. It came together fast and just kind of took off running. Folks can purchase from us frozen chocolate chip cookie dough and all the proceeds go to help the Ukrainian people. Our goal is to be able to donate $5,000 by that time, and we’re currently almost at $2,000,”
Residents should order via the Steffens’ platform signup.com/go/qgzotLX for pickups on Saturdays through April 9 at the Guilford Community Center. Walk up orders may be able tobe accomodated, though the family requests that residents pre-order to ensure adequate supplies.
“All the orders can be placed through website and all the proceeds are going to United Help Ukraine,” said Steffen.
The Community Center/Park & Recreation Department has partnered with the Steffens to provide pick up times at Community Center facility. According to Steffen, Recreation Director Rick Maynard and the department were quick to jump on board and help out.
“I was trying to think of somewhere that centrally located as a pick up spot [and] the Community Center seemed like a good fix. I spoke to Rick Maynard and asked if there was a time we could set up for an hour to allow people to pick up their dough and he so helpful and enthusiastic, and he suggested a drive-through pickup, and it has been a great so far,” said Steffen. “They were really helpful. They were very responsive to our idea, which was great because time is of the essence to get the word out and to garner that community support. Normally, there would be so much red tape, but from the formation of the idea we were up and running in two days.”
The Steffens cite Guilford’s long tradition of community and civic duty as a motivation for the campaign as well.
“We have been here in Guilford for seven years and we just love the small-town community here, where you can really get people to rally around the same cause. I think when you do that you become a stronger community,” said Steffen. “You become united as you join in an effort together. We felt that a lot as we organized this and as part of other activities here in Guilford. It’s nice to be able to reach out to the library or the Community Center and know that they are going to help.”
To order frozen cookie dough suitable for one dozen cookies, visit signup.com/go/qgzotLX . One hundred percent of proceeds will be donated to United Help Ukraine. For more information, email cookiesforukraineCT@gmail.com.