I was chatting to Glenn, the manager of the Drop-in Activity Centre, and I asked if I could bake some fresh Gingerbread Men at home to give to Open House to sell in the Centre. He agreed that I could do this and said he would look forward to seeing how they went with the visitors to the Centre. I went ahead and made my first batch and was pleased with how they turned out.  I brought a large cookie jar so they could be presented nicely at Open House.  Everyone in the Centre was thrilled and within a couple of days they were all sold out.

 

Glenn asked me to make some more Gingerbread Men for the Centre. He also asked if I would consider making them in the Centre kitchen for the purpose of including some of the participants who like cooking and might like to help. I was overjoyed and the following Tuesday brought with me the items and cooking equipment needed to make the Gingerbread. 

 

I was introduced to a participant who comes in each week but doesn’t really mix with anyone.  I asked her to help me make some Gingerbread and she did.  This woman smiled for the whole time we were cooking. We now notice each week that she is relaxing more and sharing a little about herself.  This little act of cooking together was the start of a wonderful friendship that has since seen us go to an AFL match, a bus trip and weekly shopping expeditions together.

 

It is so much easier to build friendship doing something together. I look back at the encouragement I got from all the participants, volunteers and staff.  Who would have thought that Gingerbread Men cooking could bring so much hope.