Adorable boxes of cookies with messages of support are being sold to help raise money for the victims of the stabbing attack at Lynn Valley Village.
The cookies feature the Lynn Valley Strong and We Stand Together phrases that have been widely shared on social media to show solidarity, after the North Shore community was left shaken when one woman was killed and a further six people were injured when a man went on a stabbing spree outside the village’s library and shopping complex on March 27.
Moved to help the community, Katie Houck, a Lynn Valley resident who has a side baking business called Katie Marie Cakes, and Fleur Holohan-Fogerty, who runs Central Lonsdale, a not-for-profit community organization, have collaborated on a very sweet initiative.
After the attacks occurred, Holohan-Fogerty reworked her not-for-profit’s logo design from Central Lonsdale – Heart of North Van to North Vancouver – We Stand Together. She posted the image on social media with the hashtag #NorthVanStrong and it was liked and shared thousands of times.
“I put it out in response to what happened to say that we stand together as a community and also for the people of Lynn Valley to know that we support them,” Holohan-Fogerty said. “I don't think it matters where you are in North Van. I think we all feel it. Whether you’re in Pemberton Heights or Lower Lonsdale.
“We're not used to that kind of thing in our community, North Van is our safe haven.”
Houck said she saw the logo on Instagram and instantly thought: ‘Oh, I can make a cookie out of it,' which led to ‘Why not raise money for these victims of a horrible, horrible attack.’
She reached out to Holohan-Fogerty, who already had many people inquiring to use the logo and she was more than happy to share it with her for the cookie collab.
The Lynn Valley/North Van Strong boxes, which have six cookies and also feature tree and heart designs, are being sold for $25 each, with all profits going toward the "Lynn Valley Victims" GoFundMe, organized by Jacquie McCarnan of North Van Cares. The fundraiser supports all victims of the violent incident.
There’s also an option to “pay it forward” and purchase a cookie box to be donated to the victims, their families, first responders, and the businesses in the area.
After visiting the site the day after the attacks, Houck knew she wanted to do something to help after she was struck by the Lynn Valley Strong sign and the message that “we are stronger together.”
“I've lived here for 25 years and nothing's happened like this,” she said. “I knew people that were there that day, none were hurt, but some witnessed it, and it could have honestly been anyone. Whenever I've seen something like this happen in other places I've always thought, ‘I wish I could do something but it's so far away,’ and this happened right in my own community, so I couldn't not do something.”
The 25-year-old has already received an “insane amount” of orders for the cookie boxes since announcing them at 7 p.m. on March 31.
“I already have like 40 to 50 orders, which is incredible,” she said, adding that 20 were pay-it-forward boxes.
Fortunately, she’s up to the challenge. Having run her cake and cookie business for the past three years, she’s had a lot of practice making a lot of baked goods, noting that “during Christmastime I think I baked 1,200 cookies in one day.”
Holohan-Fogerty, originally from the U.K., said she started the Central Lonsdale organization back in 2015 to get more involved in the community and shine a light on local businesses, given there isn’t a business improvement association in the neighbourhood.
She said a part of it was also just about "bringing people together." Having lived on the North Shore for nine years now, she said she'd seen how warm and giving the community is in a time of need, and she hoped the message of #NorthVanStrong would continue to be shared to “help everybody” through this shocking time.
Houck added that she’s just hoping to “add a little bit of light with baked goods."
Cookie boxes will be ready for pickup starting Sunday, April 4. Due to popular demand, cookie sales end April 8 at 12 p.m.
How to get your Lynn Valley/North Van Strong cookie box:
- Each box will contain six cookies for $25
- You can “pay it forward” and purchase a box to be donated to the victims, their families, first responders and the businesses of Lynn Valley Village
- Pick up will be from Sunday, April 4 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 6 to Saturday, April 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 11 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Pickup will be at Sutherland Secondary parking lot (1860 Sutherland Ave., North Vancouver)
- Find the cookie ordering form at Katie Marie Cakes.
People are encouraged to post photos of their cookie box, and use the hashtag #NorthVanStrong and tag @centrallonsdale and @katiemariecakes.
