If you’ve ever been to PAX, there are a few things you probably expect: long lines, cool games, expensive food… and if you’ve been going long enough, cookies.
Free cookies.
If that sounds too good to be true, you’ve probably already met the Cookie Brigade.
I recently got the chance to talk with Hayden Kane (he/him), one of the organizers behind the Cookie Brigade. Hearing the story behind it made me love it even more than I already did. (I told Hayden, I remember the Cookie Brigade from the backpack and wagon days. You’ll understand if you read on.)
It Started With a Backpack. Seriously.
The Cookie Brigade didn’t start as a big charity operation. Back in 2007, it was literally just two people handing out cookies from a backpack because they wanted to do something nice for the community. No money involved. Just vibes.
Of course, people kept trying to give them money anyway. So eventually they said, “Okay, if we take donations, we’ll give every dollar to charity.”
That backpack turned into a wagon. Then into a full booth. Now? They’ve moved into a 20‑by‑20 space at PAX and giving away over 19,000 cookies at a single show.
More Than Cookies (But Also… Cookies)
What really stuck with me from talking to Hayden is that Cookie Brigade isn’t just about fundraising, it’s about making charity feel accessible.
Not everyone can afford to donate. Not everyone wants to feel awkward walking past a charity booth because they’re broke. Cookie Brigade gets that. The cookies are always free.
If you can donate, awesome. If you can’t, you still get to participate. You still get to feel included. You still get a cookie.
As Hayden put it, Cookie Brigade is about “creating charity opportunities at the show for everybody.” And honestly? That’s kind of perfect for PAX.
Why Child’s Play?
All donations from Cookie Brigade go to Child’s Play, which is the official charity of PAX, and for good reason.
Child’s Play helps bring games, consoles, and tech into hospitals for kids who are dealing with some really scary stuff. They also research which games are actually helpful for kids’ mental health and use that info directly in hospitals.
Since Cookie Brigade started, they’ve raised over a million dollars for Child’s Play. That’s a lot of cookies doing a lot of good.
It’s a Community Thing (And That’s the Point)
One thing Hayden kept coming back to, and you can really feel it when you’re at the booth, is community.
People don’t just stop by once. They come back every year.
Some people told Hayden they used to come get cookies themselves… and now they’re bringing their kids. For some families, getting a Cookie Brigade cookie is just part of what PAX is.
There are even volunteers who literally grew up in the Cookie Brigade. Kids who were born while their parents volunteered are now old enough to help out at the booth themselves. That’s kind of amazing.
Ways to Get Involved (Besides Eating Cookies)
If you want to support Cookie Brigade beyond just grabbing a cookie (though that’s still valid):
- They run fun booth activations, like PAX Master, where you can complete tasks around the con for prizes.
- They sell merch: pins, totes, plushies. It all supports the cause.
- One of the biggest helps is just sharing what they do. Retweeting, reposting, telling a friend. It doesn’t cost anything, and it really matters.
Cookie Brigade is entirely community‑funded. It exists because people care enough to show up.
So Why Do They Keep Doing This?
When I asked Hayden what keeps him and the rest of the team coming back year after year, the answer was pretty simple: impact and people.
They’ve seen how much good this does. They’ve watched it grow. And they’ve built real friendships through it.
They’re not just coworkers who volunteer together, they’re a community inside the community.
And honestly? You can feel that when you’re there.
So next time you’re at PAX (or MAGFest), do yourself a favor: follow the smell of cookies. Grab one. Learn a little about what they do. Maybe toss a few dollars in the donation box if you can.
You’ll leave with a cookie, but you’ll also leave knowing you were part of something genuinely good.
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