Storm Lake Cookie Sale Raises Funds For Local Care Programs

On Saturday morning volunteers filled St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at 1614 West 5th Street in Storm Lake for a cookie sale that ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Homemade cookies, candies, and other baked goods were offered with all proceeds directed to An Angel’s Touch, a local nonprofit whose mission is to improve the lives of elderly people, children, and those with special needs who are impoverished, distressed, underserved, or underprivileged by giving one small gift at a time with heartfelt love and caring. The group was created to continue the charitable legacy of Ronnie and Janette Willer.

The sale provided immediate financial support to a small organization that relies on community contributions. Funds raised through events like this pay for direct assistance and small gifts that nonprofit budgets cannot always absorb. For residents who depend on local charitable programs, those modest purchases translate into tangible aid, from holiday presents to utility or grocery assistance. For sellers and volunteers, the event offered a short term boost in income or community engagement while keeping economic activity local.

Beyond the direct transfers of cash, the event illustrates how micro fundraising sustains the civic safety net. Small scale events reduce administrative costs compared with large fundraising campaigns and also mobilize volunteer labor and in kind donations. That model is particularly important in rural counties where access to larger philanthropic networks is limited and municipal social services are often constrained by tight budgets.

The cookie sale also highlights broader policy questions for Buena Vista County. Reliance on ad hoc fundraising points to gaps in predictable funding for vulnerable populations, and it raises the case for stronger coordination between local government, faith based organizations, and nonprofits to ensure continuity of services. As demographic pressures increase and needs evolve, community driven events will continue to be an essential complement to public programs, providing both economic support and social cohesion at the neighborhood level.