CAKE! A special birthday cake goes a long way for a child in need
In 2017 Christy Rogowski and Wendy Singelton created Cakes for Kids Winnipeg, a city-wide initiative that helps ensure kids who need it most have a birthday cake.
“Twenty four hours after building the website (cakesforkidswinnipeg.com) and welcoming friends and family to share our Facebook page (@cakesforkidswinnipeg) we had 20 registered volunteers!” Singelton said. To date, over 170 volunteer bakers have answered the call.
Families are referred to Cakes for Kids Winnipeg by local community groups.
“Our partner organizations were chosen because they know families the best and are vital to the wellbeing of our communities. Included in our community partnerships are Rossbrook House, Wahbung Abinoonjiiag, Winnipeg Child and Family Services and Together in Elmwood, Parent Child Coalition,” said Rogowski.
“Staff at our community partners know which days a Cakes for Kids volunteer will be arriving and they are just as excited as the families.”
Wendy Singleton
Rogowski and Singelton say the top three cake theme requests are: Paw Patrol, Mine Craft and ‘Pink and Purple’.
Debbie Smith of Winnipeg Child and Family Services said, “Recently, I had the joy of picking up a cake from a Winnipeg school where the teacher and her three volunteer sous-bakers created one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen. The teacher emailed me saying, “It is important to note that this cake is very special – it was made with love by three high school students who are themselves considered at risk. One has been in care for most of her teenage years. They were truly honoured to bake this cake today. I’m not sure there’s ever been another cake made with such love!”
Singelton breaks down a day with Cakes for Kids Winnipeg:
Christy and I both have busy day jobs and do the volunteer orientation, communicate with community partners, match cake requests to bakers and update our social media in the evenings or on weekends.
Cakes for Kids puts out a call through their network each time a kid’s big day is coming up. They include a preferred cake theme, favourite colours, the name of the child, and his or her age. Children and their families give the organization’s coordinator some suggestions for the volunteer bakers. Then we make a match to bakers who have shared what their availability and interests are. Kids love unicorns, monkeys, princesses, video games, a wide variety of flavours and even ice cream cakes! Bakers are given an idea of what the children might like and the rest is up to them! In November 2018, just over one year from receiving the first cake request, the 300th cake was delivered. Our youngest volunteers are teenagers themselves. Most volunteers participate as individuals, however we have mother and daughter teams, teacher and student groups and entire families volunteering together!
Every single person who has built and sustains Cakes for Kids Winnipeg is a volunteer!
Photos from Facebook
