M.B.
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Portland
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you could give the cupcakes to a homeless shelter.
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Hi there, I'm a busy mom of 3 with limited time and resources who would like to get my young children involved in doing something for others this holiday season. As a hobby and for friends and family, I make and decorate gourmet cupcakes, which is something the children can help me with. I'd like to find a way to make donations of somewhere around 200 to 300 cupcakes to an organization that can help distribute them to those that might appreciate it.
I don't have a professional kitchen, so I'm not sure if anyone will be able to accept them, but I thought it was worth a shot. I do have a food handler's card and would not be profiting from this in any way, obviously. I run a business around 70 hours a week and it's hard to get out to serve without my little ones (including a 6-month-old), but I don't want that to stop me from doing something to share the love. :)
Thanks for any suggestions.
*Edit: Thinking it over, I realize that nutritionally speaking, cupcakes aren't going to offer the most benefit to those in need -- my initial thinking was just to bring a smile to some faces. Perhaps, instead, I will try and organize some type of cupcake bake sale in which proceeds will be donated so that they can be used to the fullest extent. Any other ideas are appreciated too.
Update: I received a warm response from Portland Rescue Mission who would be glad to have the donation, so I am starting with a couple hundred cupcakes for the men, women, and children who benefit from the services of the mission. I've got a few other things in the works... looks like I've got plenty of causes for cupcakes! :)
you could give the cupcakes to a homeless shelter.
You know what would be remarkable? If you did take cupcakes downtown to a homeless shelter or food kitchen and handed them out in person with your kids. Or the Day Center. This is a center that provides care for patients suffering later stages of aids and they love treats that bring smiles to their faces. Also, Sisters of the Road. Those two organizations may be more accepting of homemade items than a general food kitchen. OR you could deliver to some Police and fire stations to say HI and thank you. My son and I bake cookies for police and he draws a picture and we go deliver them at a precinct where he gets to meet officers and say thank you and he gets to ask questions and usually gets a sticker badge. You have the opportunity to feed souls with cheery cupcakes as opposed to feeding bodies with food. Both are equally important and with small kids, Police and Fire may be more in your comfort zone and certainly not regulated by approved kitchen regulations.
OH...women's shelters would be a great place too...and nursing homes.
Hi C.,
I was thinking of doing a Bake Sale a week from Saturday. I read an article in Cookie Magazine about a couple who started a bake-sale campaign to fight children's cancer - and to help their own son beat it. They found out that Memorial Sloan-Kettering needed $2 million to fund the development of a new, more advanced treatment for neuroblastoma, which their son suffers from. They have already raised $400,000.
It's through cookiesforkidscancer.org
I am a business owner myself and very busy, but I thought that would be a much more rewarding way to celebrate the holidays - bring smiles to people and earning money for a good cause!
Try Portland Rescue Mission downtown.
I would call up Doernbecher's and Legacy Children's, and see whether they'd let you bring them in. Otherwise, old age homes would be likely to let you bring them in (I've done this with my Cub Scouts where the boys baked cookies and then took them in to hand out to the old folks and visit with them... we got a lot of big smiles and gave them a chance to tell the boys their stories), or as others have suggested, Portland Rescue Mission. You could also make the rounds of police and fire stations. Another idea would be to take them down to Pioneer Courthouse Square and just start handing them out to people on the street, both homeless people and anyone else walking by. You might inspire other people to turn around and do something nice as a way to "Pay it forward"... random acts of kindness and all that :)
No, cupcakes aren't the most nutritious thing, but I think when people are really stressed and in need of food, receiving a treat around the holidays and having a chance to smile and enjoy something is of value as well. How often can the homeless splurge on a gourmet cupcake?
What a great idea, I think I'm going to do something along this line with my Cub Scout families as well!
Hello I know I am so late answering this because I am just now seeing this. I am looking for donations and will take all you have if your still willing to donate. I am located in NY so I am not quite sure where you are or if you want to ship them but please feel free and let me know. Look forward to your response. Enjoy your day :)
What a wonderful idea on how to help not only your children but sick kids. How about an Alex's Lemonade stand?
Hi , I am also a mother of three trying to raise money to buy folding sleeping matts for the homeless. I was thinking of baking cupcakes and selling them to raise the money. If you are willing to donate the cupcakes to raise the money that would be a great idea. Let me know if this is something you would like to do? I am open to any other suggestions and ideas.
