WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Santa's favorite treat

South Burlington, Vermont - December 24, 2010

Ashley Bolen knows the pressure is on when it comes to cookies on Christmas Eve.

"Absolutely," Bolen said. "Santa's coming to town!"

She's a baker at Sugarsnap in South Burlington-- the company runs a pair of restaurants and offers catering. But Bolen's not doing this just to leave a snack for Santa: "You might as well go for a great cause."

Sugarsnap has a brand new program called Cookies for Good. Thirty-five cents from every $1 cookie sold goes to COTS, Burlington's Committee on Temporary Shelter, which provides emergency housing for homeless families and works to end homelessness.

"It's really nice to be able to sell cookies to folks and have this do good at the same time," said Rob Smart of Sugarsnap.

He offers nine varieties from good old chocolate chip to more exotic options like java hazelnut.

COTS and the Cabot Cooperative Creamery came up with the idea. Cabot donates the butter-- and other ingredient gifts are in the works-- to reduce the costs of production and let the bakers give more to the nonprofit.

"Each cookie may not seem like it's making that big of a difference, but a dozen cookies can generate $4.20 that goes to COTS and that has a direct and immediate impact on the people they're helping every day," Smart said. "And when you start adding dozens upon dozens of cookies, it adds up pretty quickly."

The Vermont businesses hope Cookies for Good will be a model that's copied in cities all over the country. They say it's one more way customers can see how buying fresh and local keeps money in their communities.

"Buying that regional food makes a big difference to people in that region," Smart said.

Sugarsnap plans to continue the program well after Christmas for everyday eating and special events.

"The Super Bowl coming up-- we're going to have different specials," Bolen said. "I think it's a great idea."

This company wants to make the season of giving last all year long with its Made in Vermont cookies.

Reporter Jack Thurston: That's very good, Rob.

Rob Smart: Good for lots of people.

You can order those cookies online but you have to pick them up in person at one of Sugarsnap's two locations; on Riverside Avenue in Burlington and Technology Park in South Burlington.

For more information -- cookiesforgood.org/ -- www.sugarsnapvt.com/

Jack Thurston - WCAX News