The long-term friendship of three Horseshoe Bend women and their deep desire to pay it forward will benefit a trio of Lake-area charities - and their efforts will be a great resource for people who love to cook.
Sarah Decker, B.J. Page and Gina Humlicek have been friends and fellow parishioners at Horseshoe Bend Baptist Church for many years. Each admits she has been graced by good fortune and divine providence in her life, and now it's time to return the favor. They have decided to create a cookbook of favorite Lake-area restaurant and individual recipes.
Not only will it be a source of recipes and cooking hints, it will ultimately benefit Hope House, Pregnancy Help Center and Helping Hands. The women have pledged to donate proceeds from the sale of the cookbooks to the three charities. Funds raised from ad sales will be used to help offset printing costs.
"We just want to give back to the community," Decker said. "We've had fortunate lives and now it's our turn."
Decker is a book publisher, Page is a business owner (with her husband) and Humlicek is in real estate.
Each has chosen her favorite charity to support - Decker's is Helping Hands, Page's is Hope House and Humlicek's is Pregnancy Help Center.
Their dedication is reflected in the name of their project and the name of their cookbook: "We're Giving Back...wanting you to come long."
Decker said she has wanted to publish a cookbook for several years, and was inspired by a post card from Morris Publishing offering cookbook publishing services.
"It just all started registering," she said. "So, I called the girls and asked them if they were game. They said yes."
Page added that everything "has just clicked. It's just fallen in place."
"Nobody ever gets rid of cookbooks. That's another reason we did it," she noted.
Decker, Page and Humlicek are hoping to involve their church, their friends and families, local restaurants and others to join the effort.
"We're reaching out with the message that we need 300 recipes, and we're hoping that restaurants will participate," Humlicek said. Those providing recipes will be limited to three and no duplicates will be used.
Lake-area businesses and individuals are helping as well through advertising, Decker noted. At $10 for a "patron" ad and $25 and $30 for a business, proceeds will help make the cookbooks more profitable for the charities, she explained.
The women have begun working the community by providing restaurants and businesses with an informational packet. Through their various contacts, they hope to raise $2,500 for each charity. If they gather 300 recipes, the book could grow to as many as 200 pages.
Their deadline is Aug. 15, with the first order placed by Oct. 1. They are compiling the recipes themselves through an online self-publishing service provided by book Morris Publishing in Kearney, Neb. Their goal is to have the books available by Dec. 1 for Christmas gifts.
In addition, a cookbook tasting event will be planned early next year.
"When things slow down, this will be a fun thing to do. We think it will attract a lot of local people during the slower time of the year," Decker explained.
Cookbooks can be pre-ordered. This will help generate additional funds needed for placing the first order of books. The goal is to order 500, with the option of ordering more later. Cost is $12.
"We have total faith that it's possible," Decker said.
To purchase an ad, to supply a recipe or to order a cookbook, call 573-216-8514; email inquiries to sarah@iris-folding.com; or mail to 110 Shady Ln, Lake Ozark, MO 65049.
Checks should be written out to "We're Giving Back."
Contact FOCUS editor Dan Field at dan.field@lakemediaonline.com.
