Sweet Memories
Posh Seven
By Betsy Trainor
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
In this busy modern world of social media and constant snap moments, we sometimes forget how profound small gestures such as a birthday cake can make in a child’s life. When I was young, my best friend lived in an old home with a single mom. They struggled every day to make ends meet. On her 10th birthday, her mom had a Big Bird cake made at a local bakery. All these years later, I can still see the bright yellow frosting feathers and his candy stick legs with a shiny orange beak. I’m sure it was a huge sacrifice for her mom to buy that cake. A volunteer organization called Cake4Kids.org recognized the importance of making milestones like this important for all children. They bake and deliver birthday cakes for underserved kids. The children may be in group homes, at a domestic violence or human trafficking shelter, in low-income housing with or without a parent, or even homeless. The organization’s goal is to raise a child’s self-esteem and confidence with a cake on their special day. A local woman named Mary Campbell took it upon herself to bring Cake4Kids.org to Northern Virginia.
BT: Mary, how did you first hear about Cake4Kids.org?
MC: One night I read articles online about constructive things to do with your time once your children have left the nest. I have two wonderful sons, one in college and one in high school, so I knew I wanted to begin planning how I could dedicate some of my time doing something that would make a difference in a child’s life. I saw an online post about a woman making birthday cakes for foster kids, and she mentioned Cake4Kids.org. After some research, I decided that I wanted to get involved. Unfortunately, I discovered that the organization was only active in California. So, I reached out to them and pitched the idea of coming to Northern Virginia soon after I became an Ambassador for Cake4Kids.org!
What makes this simple gift so very special?
MC: I can still vividly recall some of the cakes that my mom lovingly made for me when I was a child. I remember my wonder and excitement when I saw every one of them. When my sons were young, I did the same thing for them, and their faces would light up when I would present them with the cakes. It’s a small moment in life, but it can be almost magical for children. When I learned that so many kids don’t receive cakes on their birthdays, I was really upset and wanted to do something for those children. I felt that they should have the same special feeling on their birthdays that I had on mine, and my sons had on theirs.
How many active volunteer bakers do you have supporting you now?
MC: We currently have about 100 volunteer bakers. The volunteers bake and decorate the cakes, and then the cake is transferred to the sponsoring organization supporting or assisting the child. That organization then makes sure the cake reaches the child for a special event or occasion. It softens some of life’s challenging moments by bringing a thoughtful, personalized gift to a deserving child.
What communities do you serve in the Northern Virginia area?
In this busy modern world of social media and constant snap moments, we sometimes forget how profound small gestures such as a birthday cake can make in a child’s life. When I was young, my best friend lived in an old home with a single mom. They struggled every day to make ends meet. On her 10th birthday, her mom had a Big Bird cake made at a local bakery. All these years later, I can still see the bright yellow frosting feathers and his candy stick legs with a shiny orange beak. I’m sure it was a huge sacrifice for her mom to buy that cake. A volunteer organization called Cake4Kids.org recognized the importance of making milestones like this important for all children. They bake and deliver birthday cakes for underserved kids. The children may be in group homes, at a domestic violence or human trafficking shelter, in low-income housing with or without a parent, or even homeless. The organization’s goal is to raise a child’s self-esteem and confidence with a cake on their special day. A local woman named Mary Campbell took it upon herself to bring Cake4Kids.org to Northern Virginia.
Can you share a special cake delivery moment that stands out?
MC: An agency informed us that a mom desperately wanted a Fortnite themed cake for her son. Her choices were to either pay her phone bill or get him a special birthday cake. The agency counselor contacted me, and we got to work on it right away. Usually, we need a two-week window to find a volunteer and guarantee cake delivery, but we have emergency bakers who step in with last-minute requests. One of our emergency bakers took this order on and delivered a beautiful cake. It may sound small, but the memory was significant. It was lasting. I am confident of that.
Featuring:
Mary Campbell, Ambassador of the Northern Virginia Chapter of Cake4Kids.org
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