A few weeks ago, I got this crazy idea to throw a bake sale to benefit Syrian refugees.
I was watching the news and I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the gravity of it all. I was haunted by images of mothers clutching their babies as they fled for their lives. Families boarding flimsy rafts, hoping to sail off to safety.
I felt lost and helpless and had no idea what to do.
The next day, I attended a service at Imago Dei Community and I was floored by their Advent initiative to work with refugees. I started thinking about what I could do in light of the current refugee crisis, and literally googled “how to help Syrian refugees“. I ended up on a site that rates charity organizations and they had very good things to say about the Migrant Offshore Aid Station. MOAS is an organization dedicated to saving lives at sea, by sending out professional search and rescue teams. They are “passionate about the plight of those who are desperate enough to put themselves and their families in danger as they flee violence, persecution and oppression by setting off on the world’s most deadly maritime migration routes.”
I was inspired by the incredible (and dangerous) work that MOAS does, and decided to do the one thing I know how to do: bring people together under the banner of delicious food (in hopes to raise money for an awesome cause).
So, I sent off a bunch of emails and texts and within 24 hours I had a free space, beer/wine/coffee sponsors, raffle prize donations from countless local restaurants and bakers, and an overwhelming amount of people who volunteered to bake goods for the sale. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: PORTLAND IS RAD. The generosity of this community astounds me.)
All that to say, I’m hosting a bake sale to benefit refugees at Pip’s Original Doughnuts on Saturday 12/19 from 6-9PM. There will be complimentary beverages from Rogue Ales, Union Wine Co., and Water Avenue Coffee.
We’ll have baked goods from some of the city’s best bloggers, bakers, and restaurants (Lauretta Jean’s, Farina Bakery, New American, and more!). There will be pies, cakes, brownies, cookies, scones, bread, caramels, chocolates, and SO MUCH MORE.
In addition, there will be a raffle with prizes from Water Avenue Coffee, Owen Roe Winery, BUNK Sandwiches, Parcel, Marshall’s Haute Sauce, Pip’s Original, Jacobsen Salt Co. and more!
100% of the proceeds from the #BakeSaleForRefugees will be donated to the Migrant Offshore Aid Station. Come one and all. I hope to see you at Pip’s on Saturday night!
If you are interested in donating baked goods or raffle prizes, please contact me. We’re gladly accepting donations.
[…] Bake Sale for Refugees at Pip’s Original from 6-9 on Saturday, 12/19. This sounds like a wonderful event, with great food for an important cause. I wish I could go, but… no car. So. Buy double treats for me. […]