Usually people donate clothes, money or other resources to charities. The Asian American Resource Center decided to give cookies.

Thursday was the culmination of “Chips for Charity,” a drive sponsored by the AARC. AARC director Michelle Bringas said the center began giving away bags of chocolate chips Feb. 12, and in exchange, people would bring back chocolate chip cookies to give to different charitable programs which include Hope Haven, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, the Youth Service Bureau and Safe Passage.

“It’s a perfect time to renew a program like this,” Bringas said. “Warm your kitchen and warm your heart.”

Bringas said the program was intact a few years ago while she was a part of Student Involvement and Leadership Development but was discontinued for no apparent reason. She thought it was a good program and decided to bring it back. Anyone in the community who wished to participate was allowed. Bonnie Anderson, a retiree who used to work in graduate school administration, brought 15 dozen cookies.

“It’s a great way to create an avenue where people could do something,” Bringas said. “Organizations on the receiving end greatly appreciate it.”

Brings said the idea stemmed from the fact that Nestle would donate candy and chocolate chips to TransVac, which in turn would donate some to NIU for different programs on campus.

Anita Mui, senior textiles, apparel and merchandising major who works in the AARC, said her sorority, Alpha Phi Gamma, donated two or three dozen cookies to the program.

“Basically, we wanted to give back to the community, and this seemed like a fun and easy way to give back,” Mui said. “Baking is really simple, and it’s nice to know that it will go to Hope Haven and Safe Passage.”

Lauren Corey, graduate student interning at the AARC, said the biggest upside she sees to the program is the unity it brings.

“It’s really gotten the community together,” Corey said. “It’s really cool to see people pitch in and step up. It’s unifying the university.”