A group of young entrepreneurs in Tarragindi has raised more than $1,000 for children’s health and wildlife causes through a school holiday cookie business run by local children, some just seven years old.
Cookie Crew was launched in January 2026 after Tarragindi mother Jessica Kong-Vidas’s daughter Tilda and her friends decided to sell homemade cookies during a school holiday playdate. The group now involves more than 10 children who spend their holidays baking, making signs, serving customers and handling money.
The children have also developed their own sales strategies. During one bake sale, Tilda and her friend Winnie noticed potential customers at the nearby dog park. They packed cookies into a separate box, collected some change and headed over to sell their treats directly to park visitors.
“Well… there were people at the dog park, so I thought we should just run over to them instead of waiting for them to come,” Tilda said.
The idea worked, bringing in a few extra sales and giving the children another reason to experiment with running their business.
Young entrepreneurs find their feet
On another occasion, Tilda and Ava arranged to deliver an order directly to a customer’s car. Their enthusiasm quickly spread through the group, with nearly every child rushing to help with the delivery. This left the parents looking after the cookie stall until Iza and Zara decided to stay behind and keep things running.
There have been other challenges, particularly keeping the young bakers from eating their own products. Jess recalled children serving customers with chocolate-covered mouths after sampling the cookies and cupcakes meant for sale.
The children have taken different roles within the group, with some enjoying baking and preparing the stall while others have developed a knack for approaching customers and making sales.
Ava has emerged as one of the more confident sellers, while Claire particularly enjoys counting the money. The children also help advertise around the park and decide how to organise their next sale.
Pocket money gives way to fundraising
The children initially hoped to earn some extra pocket money from their baking efforts, but their priorities changed as they discovered how much they could achieve by pooling their earnings. Jess said the prospect of making a few dollars each became less exciting than raising money for people and animals needing help.
Children’s health was a cause with personal significance for the families. Jess’s youngest daughter has spent considerable time attending hospital, while other children in the group have also encountered serious childhood illness through people close to them.
Their connection to the natural environment around Toohey Forest inspired the decision to support wildlife care. According to Jess, Cookie Crew has now raised more than $1,000 for children’s health and wildlife causes combined.
Tilda also had an opportunity to see the work of a wildlife hospital firsthand. The turtle’s name caught her attention because it was also the name of one of her Cookie Crew friends, making the experience especially memorable.
“There was a turtle called Winnie, just like my friend! She swallowed plastic but she’s getting better now,” Tilda said.
Confidence grows with every sale
For Jess, who works in finance, Cookie Crew has also become an opportunity to teach the children practical lessons about money. She said several were initially shy around unfamiliar adults, but regular bake sales have helped them become more comfortable approaching customers, answering questions and managing transactions.
The children practise adding prices, calculating change and counting their earnings, giving them a chance to use their classroom maths skills in everyday situations.
They are also learning to make decisions together, solve problems and take responsibility for different parts of the business.
Jess has been particularly pleased to see their growing confidence and willingness to try their own ideas, even when those ideas involve abandoning the stall to chase a possible sale at the dog park.
Support from Tarragindi families, neighbours and regular park visitors has helped the children continue their efforts. Customers have returned to buy cookies and cupcakes, encouraging the group to keep baking during the school holidays.
The young sellers have also become familiar faces around the park, where their enthusiasm and occasional attempts at persuading customers have become part of the experience.
Cookie Crew returns to Laura Street Park
Cookie Crew will hold its next bake sale at Laura Street Park in Tarragindi on Sunday 15 November 2026, from 10:30 a.m., with cookies and cupcakes available for local residents. The upcoming sale will support wildlife care through Wildlife Warriors, continuing the children’s fundraising efforts for animals in need.
Cookie Crew’s Next Bake Sale
Date: Sunday 15 November 2026
Time: From 10:30 a.m.
Location: Laura Street Park, Tarragindi
What’s available: Homemade cookies and cupcakes
Cause: Wildlife care through Wildlife Warriors
Jess hopes the activity will remain part of the children’s school holidays, giving them further opportunities to work together, develop their confidence and support causes they care about.
Published 10-Nov-2026
