Students at the University of Nevada, Reno spent Sunday baking and delivering approximately 500 cookies to people displaced by the Hawk Fire and those responding to the emergency.
The effort began at Chabad at UNR, where students gathered to bake, package and prepare the cookies for distribution. They worked for hours, turning the space into a temporary bakery as they mixed dough, baked hundreds of cookies and packaged them individually.
Later that evening, the students took the cookies to an evacuation shelter and personally handed them out to people displaced by the fire. They then continued making deliveries to firefighters, first responders, Nevada National Guard members, Red Cross volunteers and others working during the emergency.
“When the fire broke out, our students didn’t want to just watch the news and feel helpless,” said Rabbi Dani Libersohn, Director of Chabad at UNR. “They wanted to do something real. Baking those cookies took hours, and driving around to deliver them took even more, but every single person who took one felt it. That is what this was about: showing evacuees, firefighters, National Guard members and others on the front lines that our students see them, appreciate them and are grateful for them.”
Chabad at UNR is the campus organization dedicated to Jewish life at UNR, providing programming, community, education and support for Jewish students throughout the year. Organizers said the cookie deliveries reflected a value they seek to instill in students: giving, sharing and helping others should be something people act on when a crisis occurs.
“Chabad at UNR is a local nonprofit, but our reach goes well beyond our own students,” Libersohn said. “Nights like this remind us why we do this work. It changes the students who bake and deliver the cookies just as much as it impacts the person receiving one.”
The organization focuses on building a Jewish community on campus while encouraging students to contribute to the broader community. Its year-round programs include weekly Shabbat dinners, Jewish education, holiday celebrations, leadership opportunities, personal support and community service.
“We aren’t only building Jewish life for our students,” Libersohn said. “We’re helping build young people who understand that when someone needs you, you show up.”
Chabad at UNR said its programs and community initiatives are supported by individuals and families who believe in investing in the next generation and the positive impact young people can have on Northern Nevada and beyond.
The organization also expressed gratitude to the firefighters, first responders, National Guard members, Red Cross volunteers, emergency personnel and others working to protect and support the Northern Nevada community during the Hawk Fire.
“Our hearts are with every individual and family affected by this fire,” Libersohn said. “We are deeply grateful to the brave men and women working on the front lines to protect our community. We hope these cookies brought just a little sweetness, encouragement and strength during an incredibly difficult time.”
