Baking For Good

Bake sales have always been for the greater good. All those high school and even college ones raised money for good causes. Now the bake sale is grown up, helping those locally and around the world.

Julia Moskin wrote about the professional bakers and chefs who have returned to baking in yesterday's New York Times Food section.  Such bakers as Daniella Senior who started her bakery at the age of thirteen (!) went back to baking after she repurposed her five Washington D.C. restaurants and bars. Instead of meals she baked doughnuts with pastry chef Paola Velez under the name Dona Doughnuts and gave them flourishes, reminiscent of Chef Velez's Dominican upbringing. There were flourishes of tamarind,pineapple guava and meringue. They were sold online with curb side pick up. The two chefs raised $6,000 , donating a thousand to Ayuda, a national nonprofit group that provides help to low income immigrants. Then Chef Velez helped with raising money for George Floyd by starting Bakers Against Racism with two other chefs. So far they have raised $1.9  million for Black Lives matter chapters and hundreds of other groups. Southern Restaurants For Racial Justice, another set of pastry chefs, Lisa Marie Donovan in Nashville, Sarah O'Brian in Atlanta and Cheryl Day in Savannah raised $100,000 for Color For Change a racial advocacy group with a Father's Day bake sale.

Bake sales for civil rights causes have long been a tradition with African-Americans. Yet it was the lead up to the 2016 that motivated artists and bakers to act. Tangerine Jones, an African-American artist started out with rage baking, a reaction to the overt racism in Trump's campaign advertising.She gave her creations to friends and neighbors. Other followed suit.Pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz raised $100,000 for Planned Parenthood in 2019 while Zoe Nathan formed Gather For Good which held outdoor bakes sales for the American Civil Liberties Union.The article also has Cheryl Day's hand held pies,and extra flaky pie crust with apple cider vinegar. taken from her enslaved great grandmother's recipes. If you want to have a bake sale to help any group, these recipes could be your jumping off point. If you are passionate about helping then bake, whether by yourself or part of a group. It may be too hot to bake but you can still create treats that can raise money. Think about dipping Oreos in different colors of chocolate. These are popular  and can go quickly. Another is a tasty mix of peanut butter, chocolate and cooked oats. Get the kids involved so they can learn how to help and show them how they can contribute to society.

A bake sale can do wonders.It can help society and those in need. Organize one today and help society and those around you.