With my passion for food and nutrition, there also comes a desire to do something meaningful for our community. So that EVERYONE has a chance to enjoy good food. I am fortunate to have always had access to healthy food, excellent education, and lots of love and support from my family and friends. I am incredibly grateful for these things, which is why I want to give back and share some of what I have.
With that in mind, I started what I called ‘my little baking project” – a bake sale kind of project. On a biweekly basis, I bake a cake or pastries for my colleagues at work in exchange for a little donation. Every dollar I receive I directly pass on to a non-profit organization.
So far, I’ve supported the following organizations through my bi-weekly bake sale:
Planting Seeds of Hope
– More specifically their urban farm, food justice, and community building project called SWAG. My friend Alexandra, together with a couple of volunteers, are dedicated to providing the local community access to food and increasing educational and economic opportunities. They have been collaborating with communities across New York and New Jersey for five years, and use the money to educate kids about farming, where food comes from, the importance of eating healthy, and the joy of cooking and eating fresh produce. I support this project because I believe it’s important for kids to learn how to make smart choices when it comes to nutrition!
Hot Bread Kitchen
– A social enterprise that trains low-income immigrant and minority women to bake. The goal is to increase their economic security and preserving valuable baking traditions. They also have an incubator program to support start-ups, aiding in the creation of jobs and food for the community.
Über den Tellerrand Kochen München
– A group that is creating lasting connections between refugees and locals by using food as a fundamental mean for cultural exchange. They organize events where refugees and locals cook and eat together. This gives refugees an opportunity to build a network of friends and allowing those in the community to learn about new cultures and traditions.
My little baking project still exists, and I am excited to continue giving back while supporting food-related non-profit organizations. I post most of the recipes from my bake sale on this blog, so make sure to check them out here!
