Volunteers and staff, including First Lady Joanne McPherson and Kay Watts, wife of assistant football coach Morris Watts, were at MSU’s Central Bakery on Wednesday to frost special Homecoming cookies - all for a good cause.

About 12,000 of these cookies will be on sale during Homecoming festivities this weekend to celebrate Spartan pride and at the same time, raise money for MSU Safe Place, the on-campus domestic violence shelter.

About 50 volunteers and staff of MSU’s Central Bakery plan to frost cookies this week. So far, 7,200 of the cookies, which feature Homecoming logos, have been completed.

“Everyone loves cookies, and they wouldn’t mind sparing a dollar for a good cause,” said Gerald Stoecker, manager of the MSU Central Bakery.

Stoecker said the bakery has helped raise money for MSU Safe Place for six years, but this is the second year they’ve frosted cookies.

“We decided to go with cookies again this year because we’ve found that it’s easy for us to deal with at the time of the sale,” he said. “You definitely get value for your money.”

MSUBakery usually raises $10,000 to $11,000. This year it hopes to raise a record $15,000.

“The money from this event will go to the general operating costs and programs for MSU Safe Place,” said Lisa Mulcrone, a university spokeswoman. “It is a very important fund-raiser for Safe Place.”

Spartan prizes will be awarded to those who purchase cookies that have specially marked sticks, which are used as handles. Prizes include tickets for a Spartan football game and women’s and men’s basketball games.

Cookies will be available at the pep rally Friday night at the IM-Sports East Field and before, during and after Saturday’s Homecoming football game.

“It’s a great way to help benefit the MSU community and help assist the people at the bakery who have done so much for Safe Place,” said Jane Olson, Residence Life coordinator and volunteer.

“Volunteering for a good cause makes all the difference in the world.”