By THOMAS GREENBERG

The parishioners at Faith Baptist Church, located off of Centerville Road have baked over 110 dozen cookies to give to the Warwick Police Department as part of an event seeking to “reach out to the community,” Pastor Ed Stutz said.

Stutz said that the Church Council has recently been brainstorming ways for the church to reach out into the community and “show our love and support.”

This project, which includes a potluck dinner Saturday night and a Sunday delivery of the cookies to the police station, is part of this community outreach initiative.

John Rouke, a parishioner, reached out to the police department, Stutz said, and police Captain Michael Higgins will be joining the church families at the dinner Saturday night. During that event, the cookies will be bagged up in decorated bags and put together by the parishioners. They’ll also be making personalized notes to give to the officers and personnel in the department.

Sue Cabeceiras, whose family of six are Faith Baptist parishioners, said she’s making five-dozen cookies to add to the haul. She also said she made a few dozen more of chocolate covered peanut butter balls to have at home just because her four kids love them so much.

Pastor Stutz said that although much of the cookie creations have been made by families at home, the church is also utilizing their kitchen to make cookies during Sunday school and bible study classes, including one Sunday school class that baked 16 dozen.

He said that around 30 families are involved with the cookie baking and they’ve all pitched in to pay for the ingredients.

“With all the police department has to go through, this is a good way to encourage them,” Stutz said about the outreach project.

He also said that the Church council has been thinking of other ways to do community outreach as well, including going out to cemeteries in Warwick and cleaning them up, which they did during the fall. They’ll continue that in the spring, Stutz said, with a “big crew” of churchgoers who will pitch in to help.

The church is also planning a movie night on St. Patrick’s Day that they’ll invite people from the community to, the Pastor said, and the council is continuing to brainstorm community outreach projects like this cookie-making event.

“It’s about reaching out to the community,” Pastor Stutz said. “We’re glad to do it, and looking forward to this one. Hopefully this will be a continuing thing and we’ll move onto the Fire Department and others in the city as well.”