CookiesBetterThanDonuts: Howell Police Receive Sweet Thanks

HOWELL, NJ -- Nearly 15 years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a sixth-grader's inspired action for Howell first responders has become a tradition.

Members of the Howell Middle School North Student Council and the council's advisers prepared several trays of homemade cookies and presented them to School Resource Officer Maureen McBride on Wednesday as a symbol of their appreciation for the men and women of the Howell Township Police Department, Chief Andrew Kudrick said.

“Cookies for Courage” was originally created by a young girl named Riley Sisk after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, he said. Riley was a sixth-grader at the school when the attacks occurred. She developed the idea to have a meaningful event that honored all the first responders and to remember the sacrifices that were made, he said.

The kids stayed late after school to make all the cookies and took the time to write thank-you cards that were presented to the department, he said.

"It’s nice knowing that these kids, their families and the school really appreciate us and are thankful for what we do!" Kudrick said. "Thank you to these wonderful kids and staff!"

He signed the post: ‪#‎CookiesBetterThanDonuts‬

So now we know the truth!

(Photos courtesy of Howell Township Police Department: Patrolwoman Maureen McBride, the school resource officer at Howell Middle School North, shows off some of the treats delivered to the township police department by Howell Middle School North Principal Paul Farley and some of his students. Trays full of homemade cookies and sweets are shown off by Lt. Dodd, Patrolman Conaty Jr., Patrolman Gilliland, Patrolman Popek, Sgt. Revilak, Patrolman Lowe, and Patrolwoman McBride.)