Angel-Baked Cookies

Before the gloves, the hairnets, and the aprons...

"Dear God, thank you for this day..."

Employees of Angel Baked Cookies join hand in hand. "I'd like to pray for all the angels at Angel Baked and their families. I pray that you allow us to give your blessings to allow us to benefit others."

"So, is the recipe a secret? Yes, our secret recipe is prayer."

Baking cookies is more than a job for these St. Louis City teenagers. "I can't wait to get to Angel-Baked, 'cause of the cookies. I can't wait to get to Angel-Baked 'cause it's like my second home," said Lora Moore, employee.

"The more kids they are able to get in here from 3 o'clock until 6, the more stuff they won't do out there," said Lamiece Martin, employee.

Working with Saint Teresa and Bridget Parish, North Grand Neighborhood Services started Angel-Baked Cookies in 2007.

Selina Madrid, program director, said, "Started three years ago with a block unit meeting at night. They were just concerned 'cause there weren't a lot of jobs in this area that were safe enough to walk to or go back to so they just wanted an opportunity to have a job."

Moore said, "We were complaining how there were now jobs in the neighborhood and how we don't fell safe going to the stores, the corner stores, and I was like we really need jobs."

It worked. Angel-Baked Cookies opened in Parish Hall and now employes students 16-18 years old who live in North St. Louis.

Find out more information about Angel Baked Cookies at www.angelbaked.org. You can order them through the website or by visiting the following local stores: Local Harvest, Grounds for Change, and Urban Cafe. They sell for $1.