WESTFIELD – Inspired by her 8 year-old cousin, Mckenzie Rogers, 16, is baking up a storm to raise money for, and awareness of, Down syndrome.
Rogers said when her cousin Riley Tierney was born with Down syndrome, it changed her world – but not in the way you might think.
“She’s so funny and crazy and she can go into any room and light it up,” said Rogers. “She’s a special kid.”
Rogers said she began trying to make people aware that Down syndrome children are just like every other kid when she was 10 years-old.
“She had a lemonade stand back then,” recalled her aunt Mary Tierney.
“When I talk about my cousin having Down syndrome, I want people to know she’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” Rogers said.
In order to increase awareness, Rogers began baking cookies to raise money for Down syndrome just two weeks ago. She calls her venture Kenzie’s Cookies and sells a dozen homemade cookies for $5.
Her first week, Rogers baked 22 dozen cookies. Just one week later, she had 146 dozen orders.
“When we hit 75 orders we knew we couldn’t do it at home,” said her mother Barb Rogers.
The Sons of Erin allowed Rogers to use the kitchen at the club Sunday and she enlisted the help of her family, including her parents Barb and Ken, her aunt, her cousin, her twin brother Jarod, and several friends.
While most local residents were prepping chicken wings and pizza for the Patriots playoff game, Rogers and her supporters were knee-deep in dough.
“We offer snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, sugar, and oatmeal raisin,” Rogers said, noting that she uses recipes from a cookbook that’s a family treasure.
Rogers said her young cousin – official taste-tester for Kenzie’s Cookies – has also inspired her career path.
“I want to be a speech pathologist,” she said with confidence.
The busy teenager is an avid dancer and a member of a competitive team at New England Dance Center, works part-time at Dunkin Donuts, and enjoys time with friends and family. For the most part, Rogers is a pretty typical teen, but she has a lot of drive and motivation, thanks to her inspiration.
Rogers said she hopes to continue growing Kenzie’s Cookies, possibly turning it into a real charitable business, or taking it to the level of other cause-driven annual fundraising events, such as the Buddy Walk.
“I want to do it as long as I can,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun and I enjoy spreading the word about Down syndrome.”
To place an order, visit the Kenzie’s Cookies Facebook page or text your order to 413-485-8374. Rogers said cookies can be picked up Sunday afternoons at the Sons of Erin or they can be delivered, thanks to her supportive family and friends.
