DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709090133

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   68 lines

COOKIE FACTORY A SWEET SUCCESS

After a year of serving up treats to their patrons, the youths at the Bowling Green Cookie Factory treated themselves to a trip to Disney World to celebrate the completion of a successful first year in business.

For five days in mid-August, the group of 15 youths, from 8 to 15, enjoyed the fun and games of the theme park, but now are back at home readying for another busy year of baking cookies.

``It was a reward for a job well done,'' said Jackie Baker, a youth program manager with the Norfolk Rehabilitation and Housing Authority, which supervises the business. ``But they'll be starting back up after Labor Day.''

Begun last August at the Bowling Green Recreational Center on Godfrey Avenue, the cookie factory is an offshoot of a youth's pizza delivery business in Roberts Village, also sponsored by the NRHA. The factory made about $1,800 in profit last year, with about 20 youths selling more than 600 dozen Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.

The tasty confections - chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and white chocolate macadamia nut varieties - are prepared, baked, and sold door-to-door, three-for-a-dollar by the young entrepreneurs. Large batches are often ordered by city agencies.

``I've got a head start on working,'' said 12-year-old Ashley Brickhouse, the president of the factory, and soon to enter the fifth grade at Bowling Park Elementary. ``We've learned to do good work, and we respect each other.''

Noah Smith is treasurer of the factory.

``I've learned about handling money and responsibility,'' said Smith, a 15-year-old who is entering the ninth grade at Norview High. ``I've also learned some new vocabulary, like entrepreneur.''

The concept for the factory was Baker's idea.

``In addition to saying no to drugs, I thought it would be beneficial for the youths to be able to say yes to owning their own business,'' Baker explained. ``They learn business skills, self-esteem, and it teaches them how to be good employees as well.''

The youths have paid off a $500 business loan from American Youth Resources, bought a deep freezer, a microwave for the pizza they sell along with the cookies, and purchased clothes and school supplies. They paid for their Disney World trip. The vacation followed a carnival held Aug. 5 at the Bowling Green Recreation Center to celebrate a profitable first year.

``It's A Cookie Dream In Bowling Green,'' is the group's motto.

During the summer, the youths baked and sold cookies nearly every day, along with ice cream and hot dogs. For this school year, they will work from about 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The operation is supervised by retired teachers, Norfolk State University students, and NRHA youth advisory staff. The supervisors also provide tutorial services and make sure the youths do their homework.

``Most of them are doing well in school, but it's convenient to have that back up here now,'' said Molly Clark, an NRHA youth adviser.

Baker said that there are plans in the near future for the cookie factory employees to help youths in Oakleaf Park and Young Terrace learn to start their own cookie factories.

``The nice thing is that the kids are starting young,'' Baker said. ``They see they can do something successful. That instills pride that people and their peers recognize.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MOTOYA NAKAMURA

Terri Rawson, left, and Tamika Alexander carry bags of dough to make

cookies at the Bowling Green rec center.

Tamika Alexander, Sherry Reyes and Terri Rawson pack cookies in bags

to sell at the Bowling Green Cookie Factory.

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