Charlie Kellenberger, right, with his wife Ingrid and grandson Christian, deliver some cookies. PHOTO PROVIDED

cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

For Uncle Charlie, everyone is a neighbor and deserves a cookie. That’s why for more than 16 years, “Uncle” Charlie Kellenberger has baked over 700,000 cookies for a wide variety of community groups and members, including charitable organizations, first responders and hospitals.

Kellenberger’s “Cookie Ministry” started after Hurricane Charley ripped through Southwest Florida in August 2004. He and his wife Ingrid went around to help work food lines for local churches in the area that were distributing meals to those affected by the storm. He noticed there wasn’t much for dessert being passed out and asked if he could bake cookies.

The rest is history.

“I just never stopped,” Kellenberger said, who also jokes he didn’t want the name “Charlie” to get a bad rap around the area due to the severity of the storm.

As for his 700,000th cookie, Kellenberger said it felt like just another day doing what he loves.

“It really felt no different than just baking as many times as I do each week,” Kellenberger said. “The joy I get is giving them to people that have never had home- baked cookies. I bake them all from scratch.”

What really tugged at Kellenberger’s heartstrings when he started was when he delivered cookies to a local migrant camp that was hit especially hard by the hurricane. When he arrived and saw young children greet him with smiles and so thrilled with his offering, he was hooked.

“These little children came out and were so appreciative, it just melted my heart,” Kellenberger said. “That was the inspiration I had to continue and so serve wherever I can.”

Kellenberger bakes anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 cookies a month, or 100 dozen a week that he distributes to, well, potentially anyone. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

“I love everybody and I give cookies to everybody,” Kellenberger said. “I give them to all of God’s children. I bake for everybody and anybody. I don’t care what they believe in or what they don’t believe in. I believe that they’re all God’s children, so I bake them cookies.”

Even more amazingly, Kellenberger works from a wheelchair, as he is an amputee. He is also a Vietnam veteran.

Recently, Kellenberger has experienced some health issues, but that hasn’t stopped the 80-year-old from whipping up delicious homemade cookies.

“I’m still here, so I want to do things for other people,” Kellenberger said. “It really keeps me positive. It doesn’t hurt my hands to bake.”

He has given cookies to Community Cooperative Mobile Food Pantry in the Cape for all of his 16 years and has donated over 175,000 treats to it alone.

He gives to the Salvation Army, local churches, families, Oma’s Heart, the Cape Coral police and fire departments, veteran organizations, Cape Coral Hospital and so many more.

“It’s not about me, it’s about doing good for your neighbor, and I say, ‘Love your neighbor and give them a cookie,'” Kellenberger said.

The Cookie Ministry creator bakes at his home, and has gone through three ovens and two mixers. He uses 16 different stainless steel pans and trays and bakes 20-40 cookies at a time, though he said it’s usually 20. Kellenberger makes more than 40 different kinds of cookies on a regular basis, though he has created over 300 different variations during his time baking.  He said he uses his time baking for prayer and reflection.

“That’s my prayer time,” Kellenberger said. “I pray for people who come into my mind.”

Kellenberger uses what money he can of his own to bake and also receives donations. For around three years, he and his wife collected cans. Kellenberger created a GoFundMe page that raised $5,000 and had a broad reach, receiving donations from all over the country. First Christian Church in Cape Coral also sponsors him a bit each month to help with his expenses.

At the end of the day, Kellenberger just wants to help his fellow neighbor during his time on earth.

Kellenberger can be reached at unclecharliecookie@gmail.com

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj