Monday, November 18, 2013
6 comments »

Donations for Washington, IL

I am updating the bottom of this post as I learn about new ways to donate to the relief effort. Scroll down for the latest information

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know that my mom’s house was leveled by the tornado that hit Washington, IL yesterday.

My mom’s front yard and door

My younger brother Andrew was in the house when it happened. He was sleeping on the couch when he woke up all of a sudden. He looked out the window to see a tree flying through the air towards him and ran to the top of the stairs. To his right, the kitchen walls were sucked away. He dove for the bathroom and curled up in a ball on the floor. When he opened his eyes, there was a blue sky above him and the toilet, tub, and bathroom walls around him were all gone. He was able to walk away and after a short visit to the hospital, he went home with only 8 stitches, quite a few scratches, and lot of bruises. It’s amazing that he’s alive.

Our motto about this tragedy has been “Things are replaceable. People are not.” We’re very lucky that he was relatively unharmed and all that we lost were things. My mom’s entire neighborhood is basically leveled. If you’ve seen the national news coverage, most of it has been filmed in her neighborhood. Update: Over the past two days, we were able to salvage some items from the house. The basement was still in decent shape, however a water main broke during the tornado, so the basement flooded. Luckily some family photos were in plastic containers and did not get damaged.

Washington IL tornado 2013

The street leading up to my mom’s house

I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for the kind words through your texts, tweets, emails, and other messages. And for those of you who have been asking what you can do, there are a few options.

  • The Washington Tornado Relief Fund has been set up to help victims. Checks can be mailed to Washington Tornado Relief Fund, 721 West Jackson St, Morton, IL 61550
  • United Way has set up a Heart of Illinois Tornado Relief Fund. Information and donation links can be found here.
  • You can donate to the Red Cross of central Illinois. Here is a link to their online donation site. To donate by mail, you will need this form. You can specify that you would like your funds to go to the Central Illinois chapter to ensure that the money is used in these areas.
  • The Peoria Chiefs are doing an online auction with all the proceeds going to help the tornado recovery efforts. The auction will have autographed baseballs from Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Greg Maddux and David Freese along with an autographed Ryne Sandberg Hall of Fame program.
  • You can purchase a Washington Tornado Relief t-shirt. All proceeds will go to families who have lost their home.
  • Heroes Memorial Foundation is accepting online donations for first responders, military (active and veterans) and their families who were affected by the tornado.

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts, good vibes, and support. It’s very much appreciated. You can follow along on twitter with #WashingtonIL or on Instagram

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130 Responses to “Tate’s Bakeshop Giveaway”

  1. #
    1
    Lindsay — December 13, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    I prefer a nice soft chewy cookie.

    ljyoung85 at gmail.com

  2. #
    2
    Reader — December 13, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    chewy for sure!!

  3. #
    3
    A — December 13, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    Love Chewy cookies

  4. #
    4
    A — December 13, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    Facebook fan

  5. #
    5
    Lucy — December 13, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    I’m lovin’ chewy cookies
    ralphlucy at comcast.net

  6. #
    6
    Lucy — December 13, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Tate’s facebook fan/liker
    ralphlucy at comcast.net

  7. #
    7
    kayla — December 13, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    crispy! 🙂 with a chewy center! perfect.

  8. #
    8
    kayla — December 13, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    i’m a fan!

  9. #
    9
    becksterslaboratory — December 13, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Most definitely a chewy cookie person!

  10. #
    10
    Kirsty — December 13, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    Soft and chewy is the way to go!

  11. #
    11
    Cara — December 13, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    I’m a Chewy cookie person!

  12. #
    12
    Cara — December 13, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    facebook fan of tate’s

  13. #
    13
    Jenny — December 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    I used to be a cripsy fan but now i love chewy 🙂

  14. #
    14
    Fun and Fearless in Beantown — December 13, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    You have been doing some great giveaways lately! I’m a chewy cookie person for sure!

  15. #
    15
    KV — December 13, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    chewy cookies all the way

  16. #
    16
    CT Cupcake — December 13, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    love soft chewy cookie. yum. want a cookie NOW!

  17. #
    17
    Lora — December 13, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Crisp outside with chewy center.

  18. #
    18
    Brandy — December 13, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    I am 100% a chewy cookie type of girl!

  19. #
    19
    Cassie — December 13, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    It depends on the cookies. Most cookies I like chewy, but some cookies are best crispy.

  20. #
    20
    Eileen — December 13, 2010 at 6:16 pm

    chewy!

  21. #
    21
    Sarah — December 13, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    Definitely chewy!

  22. #
    22
    Valerie — December 13, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    Chewy all the way! Num!

  23. #
    23
    Valerie — December 13, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    I’m already a fan of Tate’s Bakery!

  24. #
    24
    Laura and Alex — December 13, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    chewy all the way!!

  25. #
    25
    Jason — December 13, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    I think it depends on the type of cookie. I tend to like crispy kinds better though.

  26. #
    26
    Emily — December 13, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    Chewy for sure!

  27. #
    27
    Daisy — December 13, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    CHEWY cookies please

  28. #
    28
    Daisy — December 13, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    LIKED them on FB!

  29. #
    29
    tracym2303 — December 13, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    Chewy, for sure.

  30. #
    30
    Jen — December 13, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I love a chewy soft cookie but now you got me intrigued with these Tate’s crispy cookies!

  31. #
    31
    Beth — December 13, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    I am totally a crispy cookie kind of girl!

  32. #
    32
    Beth — December 13, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Liked them on Facebook!

  33. #
    33
    Erica — December 13, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    chewy of course!

  34. #
    34
    Jen McCarthy — December 13, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    I like chewy & crispy.
    I also love Tate’s.
    They’re so good!

  35. #
    35
    Jieun — December 13, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    definitely chewy!!

  36. #
    36
    Alexis — December 13, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I am totally a soft chewy cookie person. The hubs like crunchy cookies though so sometimes I burn a few ha

  37. #
    37
    Lauren (PB&G) — December 13, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    I usually prefer a chewy cookie, but my favorite is a combo of the two.. nice and chewy with a crisp and crunchy edge!

  38. #
    38
    Elise — December 13, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    For the most part, I like a chewy cookie. However, there are some exceptions to the rule.

  39. #
    39
    rkostakis — December 13, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    Definitely chewy cookies for me!

  40. #
    40
    Ashley — December 13, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    Chewy all the way!

  41. #
    41
    suburban prep — December 13, 2010 at 10:04 pm

    I prefer a soft chewy cookie.
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

  42. #
    42
    Anonymous — December 13, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    CHEWY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! almost raw!

  43. #
    43
    Rhondi — December 13, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    I prefer chewy cookies, but all cookies are good!

  44. #
    44
    Bonnie — December 14, 2010 at 12:06 am

    If it’s a cookie, it’s for me! haha

  45. #
    45
    Sherry G — December 14, 2010 at 12:18 am

    I’m definitely a chewy cookie gal. I will pass up a crispy cookie any day.

  46. #
    46
    Sherry G — December 14, 2010 at 12:18 am

    I like Tate’s on Facebook!

  47. #
    47
    theresa — December 14, 2010 at 12:24 am

    Crispy 🙂

  48. #
    48
    whitequiet — December 14, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Chewy cookies are my favorite!

  49. #
    49
    Theresa — December 14, 2010 at 12:47 am

    I love crispy!

  50. #
    50
    Barb in CA — December 14, 2010 at 12:47 am

    I like chewy and my husband likes crispy ciikies . . . so we can do damage to both! Ha.

  51. #
    51
    Theresa — December 14, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Like on FB

  52. #
    52
    Kristin — December 14, 2010 at 1:00 am

    I prefer soft cookies but I love Tate’s crispy cookies!

  53. #
    53
    Kristin — December 14, 2010 at 1:07 am

    I am a fan of Tate’s on Facebook.

  54. #
    54
    Terry — December 14, 2010 at 1:14 am

    I like a soft cookie

    terrylee5151 at aol dot com

  55. #
    55
    Terry — December 14, 2010 at 1:15 am

    I fan them on fb

  56. #
    56
    Heather Lynne — December 14, 2010 at 1:18 am

    I’m a chewy but my husband is a crispy!

  57. #
    57
    lynne — December 14, 2010 at 1:27 am

    <3 crispy cookies!

  58. #
    58
    lynne — December 14, 2010 at 1:27 am

    fan on fb

  59. #
    59
    Melissa — December 14, 2010 at 1:31 am

    Chewy all the way!

  60. #
    60
    Lisa — December 14, 2010 at 1:46 am

    I like both, I want crunchy on the edges with a chewy center.

  61. #
    61
    Lisa — December 14, 2010 at 1:47 am

    I am already a facebook fan.

  62. #
    62
    Tyler — December 14, 2010 at 1:53 am

    Crispy for me!

  63. #
    63
    Carrie77 — December 14, 2010 at 1:57 am

    Chewy! Don’t ask me why! I just do!

  64. #
    64
    Gina — December 14, 2010 at 1:59 am

    Crispy. Yesterday I made Tate’s Chocolate Chip cookies. They were divine.

  65. #
    65
    Elana — December 14, 2010 at 2:17 am

    I usually like chewy more, but sometimes I feel like it’s better for me to have crispy cookies in the house because I’m less likely to scarf them all down at once!

  66. #
    66
    Silly Monkey — December 14, 2010 at 2:28 am

    First time poster, but I want to say that you have such great recipes on here! I like cookies that are a bit crisp on the outside but nice and chewy on the inside. Oatmeal raisin are the best cookies for this texture!

  67. #
    67
    jennie — December 14, 2010 at 2:45 am

    I am a huge fan of the chewy cookie!!

  68. #
    68
    Patricia — December 14, 2010 at 2:54 am

    I love crispy cookies. They are perfect for dunking in milk.

    phjones21@yahoo.com

  69. #
    69
    Anne — December 14, 2010 at 2:57 am

    definitely chewy!

  70. #
    70
    Eagles17 — December 14, 2010 at 3:03 am

    DEFINITELY a crispy cookie! Hockeypuck style, preferably – I’m just kidding, kinda – gingersnap crunchiness would be perfect. When I was younger, I used to adore all things cookie dough. One day, I decided to eat one of those giant cartons of premade ready-to-bake cookie dough (I used an ice cream scoop and everything) and was horribly sick. Just the thought of raw cookie dough is nauseating now *shudder*. So I can enjoy the amazing taste of cookies without the terrifying flashbacks to a dreadful day.

    And that is my lovely holiday story. =)

    (ashleyso2030@gmail.com)

  71. #
    71
    Eagles17 — December 14, 2010 at 3:03 am

    Already a fan of Tate’s on Facebook (Ashley So). Have a wonderful holiday season! =)

    (ashleyso2030@gmail.com)

  72. #
    72
    Charity — December 14, 2010 at 3:03 am

    I am a strictly chewy cookies person. Mmm, cookies. 🙂

  73. #
    73
    Shela Choi — December 14, 2010 at 3:03 am

    Love the crispy cookies! and Tate’s is definitely the BEST crispy cookie!

  74. #
    74
    Donna — December 14, 2010 at 3:38 am

    Chewy gets my vote

  75. #
    75
    Diane — December 14, 2010 at 3:45 am

    chewy cookies! most definitely

  76. #
    76
    MamaFeelgood — December 14, 2010 at 4:32 am

    chewbacca

  77. #
    77
    Awesome — December 14, 2010 at 5:48 am

    I’m a chewy fan, but the boy adores anything with crunch.

    kaseyawickman at gmail.com

  78. #
    78
    Yen — December 14, 2010 at 7:51 am

    Love chewy cookies.

    Yentuyen at hotmail dot com

  79. #
    79
    Courtney in Japan — December 14, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    chewy cookies all the way!
    I “liked” Tate’s on Facebook, too!

  80. #
    80
    susieq — December 14, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    I love all cookies, but a nice soft center with a slightly crispy outer shell is definitely the way too go!

  81. #
    81
    Champion Family — December 14, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    I would love to try these!

  82. #
    82
    *amberlynn — December 14, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    I usually prefer chewy but crispy is great too!

  83. #
    83
    *amberlynn — December 14, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    I like Tate’s on FB

  84. #
    84
    Carly — December 14, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    I like all cookies!!!

  85. #
    85
    Carly — December 14, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    liked them on fb!

  86. #
    86
    The life of Joanne — December 14, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    To me a cookie us a cookie. It ass depends on how it taste.

  87. #
    87
    Karin — December 14, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    I like crispy cookies.

    karin56381 (at) gmail.com

  88. #
    88
    Suzi — December 14, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    I like cookies that are crisp and the edges and chewy in the middle. But I really love all cookies 😀

  89. #
    89
    Rebecca — December 14, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    I like chewy cookies all the way.

  90. #
    90
    Carolyn — December 14, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    I love chewy cookies all the way…yumm!!!!
    sweetstreatsbycarolyn@gmail.com

  91. #
    91
    Brenda — December 14, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  92. #
    92
    Sarah — December 14, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    Definitely a chewy cookie person

  93. #
    93
    Sarah — December 14, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    I “like” Tate’s on FB

  94. #
    94
    Brenda — December 14, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    Crispy with a chewy center. They are the best, glad to say they are from MY Hometown.. Belinda King

  95. #
    95
    rebelmom — December 14, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    Chewy is the way to go!

  96. #
    96
    Amanda — December 14, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Definitely chewy!!

  97. #
    97
    Susie — December 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Crunchy! I make soft ones for e eryone else then a crunchy batch for me.

  98. #
    98
    Marnie — December 14, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    I think I like cripsy better but there are a few cookies that are best on the chewy side.

    Marniebrian@gmail.com

  99. #
    99
    JulieAnn — December 14, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    I like crispy edges, chewy centers…

  100. #
    100
    JulieAnn — December 14, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    I’m a fan on facebook 🙂

  101. #
    101
    Jamie — December 14, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    I love chewy cookies!

  102. #
    102
    Loan LyPham-Ferry — December 14, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Hands down, I love a chewy cookie!

  103. #
    103
    Barefoot Belle — December 14, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    I love chewy cookies, but my favorite is both chewy and crispy (with rice krispies in it)!

  104. #
    104
    Barefoot Belle — December 14, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    I’m a fan of Tate’s on FB!

  105. #
    105
    Carrie — December 14, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Chewy cookies plz!

    FB Fan, in da house!!

  106. #
    106
    Jan — December 14, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    Crispy, chewy…don’t matter. Me like cookies! 🙂

  107. #
    107
    Jan — December 14, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    Liked on FB!

  108. #
    108
    Janet — December 15, 2010 at 12:31 am

    Crispy, definitely crispy.

  109. #
    109
    Janet — December 15, 2010 at 12:32 am

    I just went to Tate’s and “liked” them on facebook;)

  110. #
    110
    Dan and Roni — December 15, 2010 at 12:52 am

    I usually like chewy cookies!

  111. #
    111
    Kristin — December 15, 2010 at 12:59 am

    I prefer soft cookies!

  112. #
    112
    Kristin — December 15, 2010 at 12:59 am

    I also liked Tate’s on Facebook!

  113. #
    113
    Crystal — December 15, 2010 at 5:16 am

    I like both crispy and chewy, but if I had to pick I’d go crispy!

    CrystalW07 at aol.com

  114. #
    114
    claracupcake.blogspot.com — December 15, 2010 at 7:17 am

    I’m a chewy cookie fan!

  115. #
    115
    claracupcake.blogspot.com — December 15, 2010 at 7:17 am

    Also a tate’s fan on FB

  116. #
    116
    Kate — December 15, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    I’m a chewy cookie person!

  117. #
    117
    URBakin'MeCrazyy — December 15, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I’m definetely a chewy cookie person! 🙂

    meggie_sue@woh.rr.com

  118. #
    118
    URBakin'MeCrazyy — December 15, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Facebook Fan!

  119. #
    119
    Melissa @ Made in Melissa's Kitche — December 15, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    I definitely prefer chewy cookies!

  120. #
    120
    Melissa @ Made in Melissa's Kitchen — December 15, 2010 at 7:27 pm

    I am a “Tate’s Bakeshop” fan already. 🙂

  121. #
    121
    Sarah — December 16, 2010 at 4:27 am

    Chewy in the middle, crispy on the outside

  122. #
    122
    Sarah — December 16, 2010 at 4:27 am

    I like Tate’s on fb

  123. #
    123
    Will — December 16, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    Love chewy cookies
    williamfsullivanjr at comcast.net

  124. #
    124
    JL — December 16, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    I’d pick chewy!
    jlynch6341@aol.com

  125. #
    125
    Jessie — December 16, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    I prefer chewy, but there aren’t many cookies I’ll turn down. 🙂

  126. #
    126
    Carolyn — December 17, 2010 at 1:11 am

    i LOVE CHEWY COOKIES!!!!

  127. #
    127
    Carolyn — December 17, 2010 at 1:11 am

    I am a fan on Facebook!

  128. #
    128
    Katrina — December 17, 2010 at 1:46 am

    I prefer chewy cookies, but really, I don’t seem to have a problem turning down any cookies! 😉

  129. #
    129
    Katrina — December 17, 2010 at 1:47 am

    I already like Tate’s on FB.

  130. #
    130
    JessWV — December 17, 2010 at 3:17 am

    I like chewy cookies…unless of course someone is offering free crispy ones!

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