Tasty treats bring joy to community through tough time

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference.

And that’s exactly what Grovedale’s Jemima Knox has been doing for her community throughout this difficult year by baking delicious treats and offering them through a makeshift stall for anyone wishing to grab one on their way past.

Jemima has always enjoyed baking and when she was out of work as an outdoor education relief teacher for a period of time this year, she turned to baking.

“For me, it takes up a good couple of hours every day, it’s systematic, I find baking quite peaceful and methodical, it’s like stress relieving,” she said.

“I enjoy the product and I enjoy blessing other people, it just sort of happened.

“I just had this idea one day, I put them out and they went, very quickly.”

What started off as dropping baked goods to her friends quickly turned into setting up a cardboard box full of goodies on her letterbox and has developed into an eye-catching display full of character that is equipped to handle the weather and features hand-painted and hand-written ingredients and well wishes covering the stall.

Jemima said she had been blown away by the support and joy her baked goods have given the community. Her fridge door is full of thank you notes from young members of the community all the way to the elderly who make their way from nearby retirement villages.

“I think it’s my way of loving people – have something yummy that we all enjoy,” she said.

“People love them. People walk past and we might be leaving, and all the oldies say how much we love your cookies.

“It can just say, I know it’s a hard year and it’s a hard time, whether you’ve lost your job or you can’t see your family in Melbourne or whatever it might be, have a cookie. It’s not going to heal you, but it might bring a smile to your face.”

Jemima recalls one story in particular where a thank you note was left, detailing how tough a year the person had endured and how her baking provided a rare, but important, little win.

“I don’t know the life story of that person. They might have lost a job or might not be able to pay their rent or mortgage, but if a cookie or a muffin brings a smile to their face, then that’s pretty good.”

Jemima is now back at work, but that has not stopped the baking. She said whil

e it is no longer every day, she is baking 2-3 times a week.

If people wish to contribute financially to Jemima, there is the option to do so by dropping whatever amount you please in the letterbox. But she said clearly the money was not what it was about, seeing the pleasure it brings people and the enjoyment baking gives her is what it’s all about. All the money left in her letterbox goes towards her church which contributes to a youth group she supports.

“It was never about me making $4 per muffin, that’s not what it’s for.

“If me giving you one cookie makes your week then it makes it all worth it.”

Anyone wishing to give Jemima’s baked treats a try can take a drive along Church Street in Grovedale and it won’t take long to see the stall or the community library.

Jemima also has an Instagram page where she posts regularly and gets plenty of requests for upcoming recipes. She can be found at geelongcommunitycookies