Couple launches a bakery to bolster organ donations
SARATOGA — Last January, Melissa and Steve Wojcik were packing for their honeymoon when Wojcik, 40, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He was later diagnosed with advanced heart failure and received a life-saving transplant.
The Saratoga County couple launched an at-home bakery to raise awareness for organ donations. For every dozen cookies sold, The Cookie Jar by Mel donates $1 to Donate Life New York State, an organization with a mission of increasing organ, eye and tissue donations.
For several months after his initial heart attack, Wojcik was in and out of the hospital as his health continued to worsen. It wasn’t until June, when he was readmitted to Albany Medical Center Hospital, that he was diagnosed with advanced heart failure and told he needed a heart transplant. Within a week of being on the donor list, he received the call that a match was found.
For Melissa Wojcik and the rest of the family, the early morning operation left them riddled with anxiety. Coincidentally — or, perhaps, an act of fate — a transplant survivor group from Donate Life New York State was meeting at the hospital for the first time in a year. Group members were able to offer Wojcik’s loved ones insight on the process and share their own stories of healing.
“They did an unbelievable job getting to take care of my wife and especially my daughter, getting her over being afraid and reassuring her that they’d all been through what I was going through, and that I was going to be fine,” he said. “When I got out, that experience really inspired us.”
Her husband’s newfound goal of supporting the organization helped Melissa Wojcik realize her lifelong dream of starting a bakery. Two weeks after he was released from the hospital, Melissa Wojcik began baking cookies at home while her husband focused on developing a business model. Before long, the couple’s kitchen became their all-day workstation filled with the aroma of freshly baked cookies.
The business sells a variety of the treats, including chewy oatmeal raisin, peanut butter blossom, snickerdoodle and sugar cookies as well as gluten-free options. The recipes come largely from Melissa Wojcik’s child
hood spent baking alongside her grandmother, especially the old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies.
After a successful season spent establishing the business and earning $7,000 thus far in sales, the Wojciks are preparing for the next phase of operations: opening a brick-andmortar store so guests can browse the sweet treats in person. The Cookie Jar by Mel will open in May in a shop at the Saratoga Escape Campground in Greenfield Center.
As part of the expansion, the menu will also include cupcakes, muffins and other homemade baked goods. They will also be partnering with a local farmstand to sell their desserts as well, The couple also plans to hire a baker soon.
“There are hundreds of people on that site every day during the summer so we’re launching there so we can have a guaranteed stream of income, and then we’re going to keep it open all year round until we can save up enough to get a better location,” Steve Wojcik said. Their friendship with the owner of the campground helped bring the partnership to fruition, he said.
As they prepare to open the store, customers can continue to shop online at https://thecookiejarbymel.com/ Delivery is free within 50 miles and shipping is free for orders over $25. All orders come per dozen and begin at $12.95.