CARBONDALE -- With local citizens split on the impending visit of President Donald Trump to Jackson County on Saturday, one local business has taken a different approach.
Cristaudo's, a bakery in Carbondale for over four decades, is selling, "Hate has no home here" decorated sugar cookies, and pledging to donate 50 cents from every cookie sale to the Southern Illinois Immigrant Rights Project. SIIRP works to inform, defend and expand the rights of all residents in Southern Illinois, regardless of status.
Cristaudo's announced the cookies on Facebook at 10 a.m. Wednesday; by 3 p.m. they were out of cookies, and orders were pouring in for more.
"We even had an order to ship to Kentucky," said Carson Cates, the front house manager for the bakery.
Cates said the idea behind the heart-shaped cookies is to show support for the immigrant community and Carbondale as a whole.
"I think it's important to support groups like SIIRP right now," she said.
Carbondale, a microcosm of the human race, is home to immigrants from nations around the world.
By Thursday morning, the post had over 400 "likes" and "loves," as well as 170 shares, and several comments of support. One suggested she pass them out at the airport on Saturday.
Another user, Jeslyn Jobe, wrote, "Thank you Cristaudos, for always promoting compassionate community."
Cates said she doesn't agree with a lot of President Donald Trump's policies.
"I would like to spend time putting energy into supporting groups like SIIRP and other groups fighting for visibility here," she said.
The cookies will be available for the next week.
