News
Columbus Bakers Join Bakers Against Racism
Courtesy of Columbus Underground
June 17, 2020
When there are causes that need funding, many turn to baking to raise the dough. Earlier this month, Washington, D.C. based pastry chef Paola Velez put out a call on her Instagram, asking bakers to participate in a worldwide virtual bake sale to raise money to support radical change against systemic and structural racism.
To participate, “All you have to do is make a dessert to sell, and then donate the majority of the proceeds to a charity that supports black lives.”
Earlier this month, home bakers Liz Martin, Bryant Miller, Lisa Steward, and Amanda Liu held a bake sale to raise funding for the Black Lives Matter movement. All of the items sold out within four hours.
“We sold Lisa’s Brownies, Bryant’s Gluten Free Take and Bake Cinnamon Rolls, Amanda’s Lemon Bars and Aussie Bites which are like a super food every bite, and my award winning chocolate chip cookies take and bake, sourdough boules, burger buns, and bagels,” says Martin.
“We decided to do the bake sale before even knowing about Bakers Against Racism,” she says. “The Bake Sale in support of Black Lives all started when I was feeling helpless and like I wasn’t doing enough with the Black Lives Matter movement. I posted on my Insta stories if people would support a bake sale and got a good response. That’s how Amanda and Lisa jumped in and I asked Bryant to join in because he is becoming a gluten free baker.
They raised $1,842 for the Columbus Urban League.
“We all resonated with their mission and their long standing history in the community,” says Martin.
On Friday, June 19th, in celebration of Juneteenth and to support Bakers Against Racism, Pistacia Vera will be offering Blackberry Plum Almond Galettes. All proceeds from galettes will be gifted to Maroon Arts Group. Preorders are $5.
OH Jenny Bakes is participating and will donate to BQIC (Black Queer Intersectional Collective). You can order her Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies for pick-up on Saturday, 6/20. A single cookie is $3 and a half dozen is $15. Preorder here.
Dough Mama has chosen cookies to participate in #BakersAgainstRacism. Preorder: Loaded Oatmeal, Salted Chocolate Chip, GF Double Chocolate Chip, and Vegan Peanut Butter. They will be donating 100% of the profits to Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective. Starting Thursday, call the cafe to pre-order your cookies ($2-$3), and then pick them up any time during open hours on Saturday.
The Baker’s Rack will participate by donating 20% of their sales at the St. Mary’s Farmers Market on Saturday, June 20th to Black Out and Proud. They had previously announced that one dollar from every pack of Vegan Funfetti Cookies would be donated to Black Out and Proud during the month of June.
The Spiffy Cookie is selling a $20 Variety Box that includes 2 coconut lemon bars, 3 BLM cut out sugar cookies, 1 berry lavender cupcake, and 2 chocolate chip cookies. To order, send $20 to @Erin-Vasicek on Venmo and pickup is Saturday, June 20. Supporting Columbus Urban League. Sale ends Thursday June 18 and quantities are limited.
Volk Sweets is offering a 6 pack Variety Box of Bite-Size Brownies. Flavors may include chocolate, peanut butter, cookies & cream, bourbon, salted caramel. Boxes are $10 and $2 of each will be donated to the Columbus Freedom Fund. Order on the Facebook Page.
Hearth Bakery offered savory baked goods, cookies, and jam during a preorder sale on June 15 and is supporting People’s Justice Project.
“This was my third bake sale for charity,” says Martin. “I’ll definitely be doing more bake sales in the future and will definitely be including friends to bake with me.”
Many bakers are offering shipping. Support the local bakers above, or find one at #BakersAgainstRacism.
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