Photos and text by Jen Rinaldi

For the past several years the White Mountain Women’s Club (WMWC) has organized the Cup of Cheer Cookie Walk at Saint Mary of the Angels St Joseph Family Center located behind the main Church building in Pinetop. This year as the winds of winter blew, spirits remained cheerful as the smell of cookies and homemade soup filled the air. Seventeen fantastic vendors, all of whom donated to create two raffle baskets worth well over $300, came to the family center to participate. Along with the vendor donation baskets were several other baskets, some with Christmas items, Cardinal game tickets, and themed baskets of all kinds, even a few made especially for kids. Folks who joined the festivities had a great chance at winning and an incentive to come join us next year.

Other activities included an event that allowed participants to purchase tickets for the chance to spin the wheel. Depending on what numbers came up on your spin you were allowed to pick from various items that were donated and set up on tables. There was also a cash drawing for $250 of Christmas spending money.

And let’s not forget the center of the event, the cookies! All kinds from the pfeffernusse cookies your grandmother used to make, to sugar cookies, chocolate chip, and even gluten-free selections. We brought home a box to enjoy and loved the selection of cookies to choose from. People lined up at 10 am Friday just to be able to procure a box for themselves, then stayed to eat and shop.

If cookies are not on your “yes” list, the Women’s Club members also prepared several soups for your lunchtime enjoyment. A bowl for $5.00 which included a roll and a bottle of water. For $6.00 you could have a cup of soup in a special holiday mug that you could keep. 

The shopping was fabulous this year as there were more vendors who added to the festivities, bringing everything from jewelry, Christmas items, soaps, artwork, furniture, clothing, and so much more as holiday musical selections were played throughout the day lending to the festive atmosphere.

  Most of the items on sale were unique and handmade locally, something that is near and dear to my heart. Upon asking some of Santa’s helpers at the event, I was told that the Woman’s Club prefers to invite vendors that give back to the community, an aspect that is in their own charter. the White Mountain Woman’s Club (WMWC) was established on April 15, 1964. Their mission is to “unite women for mutual benefit to promote their common interest in education, community service, and the arts.” Every year they hold numerous events including a home & garden tour in June, a fashion show and luncheon in July at the Torreon Country Club, and of course their Cup of Cheer Cookie Walk & Boutique. 

Now, 58 years old (1964 – 2022), the club has a long list of accomplishments and a rich history of helping worthy causes. All proceeds from this event and others that they have throughout the year stay in the community. Recipients include funds to create and distribute Thanksgiving food baskets, Love Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, Adopt-A-Highway, Cents for Seeds – Wildlife Nature Center, Friends of CASA, Clothe-A-Child, Pet Allies, Navajo Country Advocacy Center, Drug Programs, Humane Society, Salvation Army, Angel Tree for Seniors, as well as providing diapers and toiletries for those in need, donations for forest fire victims, and many, many more worthwhile causes.



The WMWC holds its general meetings on the second Thursday of every month at 10:30 a.m. Feel free to join them! Or go online at: gfwcwhitemountainwomansclub.wordpress.com/about/ to learn more.