Hulda gives the gift of joy with her sweet treat giveaway

University of Northampton graduate and smart cookie, Hulda Adao, has used her baked goods business to gift sweet treats to people leaving the care system.

Hulda graduated from the University of Northampton in 2019, after studying a degree in International Tourism Management & Events Management. After perfecting her vegan cookie recipe, along with her business partner, Katya Pires, MoMa’s Cookies was launched in 2020.

MoMa’s Cookies, which is a social enterprise, supports local charities through their business model. Each time a MoMas’s customer purchases sweet treats, a percentage of that sale goes towards supporting a range of charities across the county.

Hulda said: “I wanted to use the business to support small, independent charities in Northamptonshire to carry out their great work. MoMa’s focuses on giving opportunities to those organisations that really need the support to continue their work, I’ve focused our efforts here where a small donation makes a big impact, rather than establishing our support network for the big national campaigns.”

In December 2021, the Northampton-based vegan cookie business took it a step further, with a collaboration with Right Resolution CIC, offering customers the opportunity to donate a box of cookies to young people in Northamptonshire leaving care.

Talking about the partnership, Hulda said: “After I graduated, I worked with Right Resolution CIC. I was responsible for events, fundraising and more as their Administrative Development Officer, I saw first-hand the huge positive impact that a treat and donation can have for someone establishing their lives as they leave care.

“During the festive period care leavers are often forgotten about. I wanted to try and bring a bit of Christmas cheer to people and came up with the donate a box campaign.”

Hulda and the MoMa’s customers paid it forward, sending over 30 cookies to Right Resolution CIC, which were gifted to the young people they work with.

Amarjit, Director at Right Resolution CIC, said: “It’s always great partnering up with Hulda from MoMa’s Cookies. Hulda is a wonderful person that believes and supports our work in many ways. MoMa’s have supported our Care Leavers week for two years running when we came up with the idea of providing cookie kits that were then disturbed to the Care Leavers during the lockdowns.

“The kits gave the young people a lovely opportunity to bake with a friend and the response was great. The Donate a Cookie campaign has been a great initiative and we were all very happy to be chosen to pilot this campaign. The cookies have been a lovely surprise for the Care Leavers especially after another difficult year being in a pandemic and with isolation levels being high.  The Care Leavers have thoroughly enjoyed the look of the cookies and most of all the taste!!! It’s been really nice to have had this opportunity to give a nice sweet treat out this Christmas and we are looking forward to partnering up with MoMa’s again soon.”