Brittany Greenwood’s Cookie Jar Ministry

What began as a simple act of kindness has grown into a movement of open hearts and open ovens, bringing comfort to people in recovery from addiction. Brittany Greenwood has helped deliver more than 24,000 homemade cookies through Cookie Jar Ministry—each one a reminder that meaningful connection can be formed through something as simple as a cookie. Her generosity has sparked a community of people who have rallied around a shared vision: offering a sweet reminder that small acts of kindness can carry profound impact.

TK: What inspired you to start Cookie Jar Ministry?

Brittany: In 2023, in the midst of going through a difficult season in life, I woke up one morning with a noticeable amount of energy, so I decided to bake a batch of cookies for my husband. As I fired up my mixer and sifted flour, a peace came over me and my heart was filled with a message from God. I heard him loud and clear: Feed others’ souls and do not focus on yourself. And Cookie Jar Ministry was born.

TK: Why did you choose cookies as the centerpiece of your ministry, and what do they represent to you?

Brittany: A cookie can be a snack, but it can also be a memory, an experience or comfort. For me, cookies represent my childhood, my mother teaching me to bake, sharing her family recipes and telling stories as we stood side by side at the kitchen counter.

TK: Who are the people you reach and how do you connect with them?

Brittany: The ministry focuses on the men and women in recovery from addiction, living in the five Tulsa area Hope Is Alive residences. I personally have not experienced addiction in my family, but I have two friends who have been through the program successfully. I knew when God spoke to me to begin serving others, these were my people. I had previous opportunities volunteering with the program, so I wasn’t a stranger when I approached the HIA community coordinator with my ministry pitch.

TK: Is there a story that stands out to you — a time when you saw someone deeply touched by this small act of kindness?

Brittany: Every week when we deliver the cookies there seems to be a story. Most often residents are in awe that complete strangers take the time to bake cookies just for them. Many of my friends in HIA did not grow up with the smell of cinnamon wafting through a cheerful kitchen or the crisscross pattern atop a peanut butter cookie. These men and women have chosen to radically change their lives and, on this journey, rebuilding their self-worth is a necessary step. Those homemade cookies, delivered to their doorstep and often prayed over, reinforce that they are worthy.

TK: How has your own family been involved in this work, and what do you hope others learn from watching you lead?

Brittany: My husband is my partner in the Cookie Jar Ministry. He helps load the cookie mobile, maps out our delivery route, and is the designated cookie route driver. He has supported me from day one and is my biggest cheerleader. Both of my sons advocate for my project and are always on the lookout for new cookie bakers for me.

TK: What has Cookie Jar Ministry taught you about kindness, generosity and the needs in our community?

Brittany: Tulsa is such a giving city, and most people want to participate in some way. I also know that generosity can be measured by the cupful, with kindness blended in like chocolate chips.

TK: What would you say to someone who wants to make a difference but feels like they don’t have much to offer?

Brittany: There are many outlets and opportunities in our city. Ask questions, read local publications and use social media requests for assistance. I firmly believe that we each have something within ourselves that can be shared. You may not be able to write a large check or chair a million-dollar event, but you can stuff envelopes, walk a dog, sit with someone lonely, clean out a closet, donate things you no longer wear, organize shelves at a food pantry or, if you are most comfortable at home, bake some cookies.

TK: What does a typical day of cookie ministry look like — from baking to delivery?

Brittany: I love this question. I am someone who loves to organize, so preparing every Monday for delivery day is the ultimate opportunity. Around the 25th of each month, I will post the Cookie Calendar dates and needs for the upcoming month on my social media accounts. I have an army of cookie bakers, and they watch dutifully to select their baking date. I keep a spreadsheet with cookie contact information, send out reminders a couple of days in advance of their drop-off date, then Sunday afternoons I greet the ladies and gentlemen with their delicious donations. Lastly, I have a preprinted logo I attach to each package before we set out to visit our friends who know that the cookie lady delivers on Mondays.

TK: What’s your dream for the future of Cookie Jar Ministry?

Brittany: I am in continual hope that someday I can expand into all 26 Hope Is Alive sober living homes across 12 cities in the United States. It’s a big dream and I am always looking for people to lock arms with to make this happen. Locally, I welcome additional cookie bakers. My volunteers serve for a variety of reasons: They love baking but don’t love eating the calories, some serve in honor of friends or family in active addiction (or lost to addiction), and for many it’s a simple way to help others by providing a bite of comfort, baked with love.

How Tulsa Families Can Help

Want to be part of Cookie Jar Ministry? Brittany welcomes volunteers of all ages and schedules—whether you bake once, once a month or once in a while. To learn more, find Cookie Jar Ministry on Facebook.

Here’s how to help:

• Bake three to four dozen cookies, packaged in resealable plastic bags or a disposable container with a lid
• Sign up to bake once, monthly or occasionally
• Service hours available upon request

Cookies are delivered weekly to Tulsa-area Hope Is Alive recovery homes.

Nancy A. Moore is an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College and has been a writer for TulsaKids for more than 20 years. Her podcast, Sharing Passion and Purpose, can be found on most podcasting platforms or on NancyMoore.co.