For Patricia Scott, a former crack addict and recovering alcoholic, Union Mission’s new Fortunate Cookies offer more than just a tasty treat.
“To me, they symbolize hope,” she says, her brown eyes widening. “Union Mission helped me turn my life around completely.”
That’s why Scott has been volunteering in the Starfish Café’s industrial kitchen at the corner of Gwinnett and East Broad Street, baking sugar, gingersnap and mint chocolate cookies to sell at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.
She’s a recent graduate of Union Mission’s culinary arts training program at the café, who had lived on Savannah’s streets for five years.
“When you’re on the street, you’re on the fringe of society,” says the 46-year-old mother, who is seeking a job at a local bakery. “Union Mission taught me the importance of completing small goals every day. It gave me a sense of purpose.”
Transforming lives
Proceeds from the new line of Fortunate Cookies benefit Union Mission programs designed to reduce homelessness and empower people to get their lives back on track. Each cookie, hand-wrapped in food-grade cellophane, comes with a real-life success story about a local individual who overcame homelessness, secured a job, earned a GED degree or beat addiction thanks to programs at Union Mission.
“Our Fortunate Cookies share the sweet success of our clients, preventing and ending homelessness one person at a time,” says Frances Carter, president and CEO of Union Mission. “This is an excellent opportunity for the Savannah community to enjoy a great cookie for a great cause.”
Union Mission will unveil the new line of freshly baked cookies at a special sidewalk station in front of the HunterMaclean office at 200 E. St. Julian Street, which is just east of Reynolds Square, during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.
The cookies will also be available from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Starfish Café, 719 E. Broad St., and during regular café business hours beginning on Monday. The cost is a minimum donation of $1 per cookie.
Bryan McNamara, the new head chef at the Starfish Café, oversees Union Mission’s culinary arts program and took the Fortunate Cookies idea from concept to reality. The cookies are made from scratch, with most of the baking completed by students enrolled in the café’s 63rd class.
“To be eligible for the program, our students have to be homeless or near-homeless,” McNamara says. “They’ve all decided they want to improve their lives and to put in the work needed to learn a trade in the culinary arts.”
Doing good
For this accomplished chef, who has worked in the kitchen at Italian-style bistros and upscale steak houses, the opportunity to share his talent with individuals in need is a blessing.
“I’ve always wanted to do good,” he says. “It’s nice to know the skills and knowledge I’m putting to work are going to benefit other people, not just turning a profit.”
Beginning on Monday, additional flavors such as oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate chip will be available at the Starfish Café.
McNamara, who developed each flavor, admits his favorite is the mint chocolate cookie.
“The texture is soft and luxurious, with a hint of mint,” he says. “The cookies are a great way for us to give the students confidence in the kitchen and a great way to support programs at Union Mission.”
After all, he says, the secret ingredient in every Fortunate Cookie is something that can’t be bought or sold.
“Love is the key ingredient,” he says. “If you’re cooking with love, you can really taste it.”
ABOUT UNION MISSION
Union Mission Inc. began in 1936 as a part of Savannah’s response to the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Today, Union Mission provides shelter for men, women and families, short- and long-term housing assistance, behavioral counseling, substance abuse programs, life skills training, job training and employment assistance throughout the greater Savannah area. The Starfish Café, home to Union Mission’s culinary arts training program, is open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, serving breakfast and lunch.