Baldwin High School students bake cookies for senior citizens

The smell of freshly baked snickerdoodles fills the hallways at Baldwin High School.

Inside Beth Fochtman’s cooking basics class, students are baking dozens of cookies for the holidays.

But these aren’t just any cookies — these cookies are being made specifically for the senior citizens living in the district, as a way for students and staff in Baldwin-Whitehall to connect with them over the holiday season.

Senior citizens in the community will stop by to listen to music and to tour the school. They’ll leave with a box filled with hand-selected cookies baked just for them by Baldwin students.

“It’s a great way to start off the holidays,” said junior Megan Puzak, 16. “People get so wrapped up in getting gifts. They forget that Christmas is the season of giving and they forget to give back, even if it’s just as simple as a cookie. It can make a big difference in someone’s day.”

The Holiday Cookie Extravaganza started in Baldwin-Whitehall three years ago, as an idea from Superintendent Randal Lutz, who wanted to deepen the connections between students and senior citizens during the holidays.

“It’s a wonderful thing to do,” Fochtman said.

Students in Baldwin High School’s seven cooking basics and cooking masters classes learn a wide range of skills throughout the semester-long course.

“We’re just trying to give them more confidence in the kitchen,” Fochtman said.

They’re learning to cook at home.

“That’s what we want is for them to transfer those skills,” said Michelle Malone, family and consumer science teacher.

Freshman Lauren Loeffert, 14, said she’s made homemade spaghetti sauce and cupcakes at home, thanks to the skills she learned in class. “I actually know how to use things in my kitchen now,” she said.

The class has been quite the learning experience.

“We’ve made some mistakes. We’ve burned some cookies,” junior Daelin Digiannurio, 17, said with a laugh.

“It’s a nice class, we learn more life skills,” said freshman Ava Bell, 14.

This year, they’re making snickerdoodles, chocolate chip and chocolate crinkle cookies to give away. Teachers estimate the week’s worth of baking will yield about 100 dozen cookies.

Baking for the senior citizens that live in Baldwin-Whitehall makes the holiday cookie task even more special for students.

“It’s a good deed to do,” said freshman Gavin Roscoe, 14. “They might be alone and not have any family.”

Freshman Taylor Bommer, 14, said she feels good helping others. “It really puts the joy in my heart to know that I’m giving back,” she said.

Freshman Nora Vickless, 14, said she hopes that those receiving the cookies feel wanted and appreciated because that’s what they are.

Bell said she hopes more people will follow the students’ example and give back this holiday season.

“They should do something like this,” she said. “Do anything to help others.”