Cookie (or Biscuit depending on what side of the pond you're on) Brigade East! Hello all, since it was brought up in the questions thread for PAX East I figured we might as well start a thread for this--chibidani can't make it to PAX East so I'm helping to organize things for this leg. Here's a quick rundown: What is it? The Cookie Brigade is just a bunch of peeps who like baking so much that they bring cookies and other baked goodies to PAX to give away to other expo go-ers. We also collect donations for Child's Play if people feel like donating, and when PAX winds down we hand over any donations to the Child's Play people. Please note: We don't sell cookies for Child's Play, we're just people giving out sweets because we're friendly like that, and people can give us donations for Child's Play because they're generous like that (and we're convenient people to give that money to...y'know, since we're walking around and were going to turn donations in to the Child's Play person at the end anyway). How do I participate? You can help bake, help distribute, or both! Sign-ups are pretty loose because this is all a voluntary thing, and you can post in this thread, in the Google Group, PM, or use this website for now. Do you guys really raise any money? Yes, yes we do! In the past 2 years since this has started, we've collected approximately $5000 each PAX for Child's Play, and it's all been from you guys! You're awesome! Organizational Stuff Closer to PAX East, we'll post some more information about when we're meeting up to drop off/pick-up cookies and donations, get your Cookie Brigade buttons, and all that other stuff. In the meantime, discussion can be found at the Google Group or you can post questions and about your eagerness to bake delicious things here A Brief History Bonus This was posted by Alyssa in the Cookie Brigade (CB) Google Group and she said I could share it, because it's a really awesome way to understand the CB a bit better: "Allow me to introduce myself, for those of you who have never met me and don't know me. In 2007, I attended my first PAX. It was AWESOME. I am a shy, shy person, so in order to *bribe* people into being my friends, I baked cookies and took them with me to PAX to distribute for fun [...]. BrokenAngel was another individual who - independent of me - did the same thing in BYOC and other places. I found that, every time I gave someone a cookie, they tended to want to reciprocate by giving me something in return (as is somewhat typical in the ever-loving, ever-giving PAX community). This puzzled me, and as I planned on returning in 2008 (not knowing my job would change and prevent me from being able to), BrokenAngel, myself and a few other forumers decided that it would be cool to bake cookies, distribute them, and gain donations for Child's Play. And I think this is what the Cookie Brigade is all about. Giving something to PAX-ers, and PAX-ers giving something back in return."

Yay! Let's get the party started! (do do be do be do do) =)

Yesh, SIGN ME UP. I don't plan on baking (yet), but I want to help spread the love that is cookies. :3

I'm interested in helping out! This seems like a great way to meet people and make big stacks of new friends. I'll have to start practicing as far as baking goes, though...

If I am able to go, I'll def consider helping out.

I don't want to be "that guy", but I very specifically recall someone saying "Would you like to buy some cookies for Child's Play?" in the line for one of the concerts. So, due to that, I didn't realize they were "donation optional".

I was under the (possibly incorrect) assumption that the convention center enforced a monopoly on food vendors, hence the cookies being "donation optional" only so as to not piss off the people in charge of the space and the overpriced food stalls.

Aye, I don't doubt that there were some occasional slip-ups... my two things I usually say are either "Cookies for Child's Play!" (if I don't have time to give a longer statement, which I hope implies optional donations) or the much longer and more explained "I'm with the Cookie brigade. Take a cookie! We also accept donations to child's play if you have the funds to spare!" or some variant of that. Inevitably several dozen times each day I have to explain what Child's Play is, which is good because more people know: though I'm not sure how they were on the site long enough to find out about PAX without knowing about Child's Play. =) Maybe they came to the PA site at the wrong time of the year? Anyways, I digress. Indeed it's donations optional. I probably gave away at least half of my cookies without even a cent donated in exchange, which was 100% okay! (I had to convince some people that it was okay, because people were very hesitant... but I'm not going to deny anyone the right to cookies =) ) Just about the only thing that I do get upset about is when someone takes a whole bag, which happened to me on two occasions this PAX (and only once in PAX '08). (Needless to say, on both of those occasions they didn't donate =) ) I consider even up to five cookies per person to be fair play, but beyond that kind of feels like stealing from Child's Play... those were dozens and dozens of cookies that someone could've given a donation in exchange for. (now, if you were to donate very generously to Child's Play, I wouldn't mind if you took a whole bag... but I digress again =) )

I was thinking of doing a few dozen gluten free cookies. Has anyone else done that at an event? I'm wondering how much of a demand there will be for them.

Yes, that would be fantastic Rebecca! We definitely get requests for gluten free cookies: I know I get asked at least a couple of times every year. Usually though, I don't have any on me. =( We had someone make gluten-free cookies last year (and I believe this year too), but there were only so many to go around: we could definitely use a larger supply of them. =) Also, my wife has Celiac, she'd love to try your cookies! =)

Great, I'll save her some. I'm getting recipes from a friend who's child has Autism and the gluten free diet seems to help him. They should be good since they've been kid approved.

I'm happy to say that I'll be helping out my lovely and talented wife (Rebecca). She seems to think that people will be more likely to donate to a guy in a wheelchair. (Frankly, I think they'll just be likely to donate due to yummy cookies...but that's just me!)

Woot, good to have you guys aboard! =)

Found an awesome looking recipe last night for (gluten free) pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. This may call for a test bake...you know...for quality control.

Found an awesome looking recipe last night for (gluten free) pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. This may call for a test bake...you know...for quality control. That's like my fiance, "I have to try one to make sure they taste ok!"...."...well, I have to try another one because now they're cool and might taste different!"...."...I have to have another one to make sure they still taste good!"...."Well, they're there!"...."You shouldn't make cookies, you're making me fat!"

Yum! That sounds delicious! =)