Raw Drip

Maybe my vision of the world is a little too upbeat, but whenever the going gets tough I see most of us out there doing more for our fellow humans rather than less.  Of course I always applaud good behavior (it being so rare in my own house) but I’m an even bigger supporter of giving for the sake of giving.  When it comes to a great old-fashioned way of giving nothing says win/win to me like the words “bake sale”.  Bake sales are to health-conscious, image obsessed women what methadone must be to heroin addicts – a welcome relief from the withdrawal symptoms.  From sampling your own “work” to finally having a good excuse to buy cookies, bake sales are a brilliant invention.

Clearly I have no problem admitting my love of bake sales.  I’m a regular at all the local church & school bake sales, not out of a burning desire to support my community but out of a selfish compulsion to eat homemade baked goods that I don’t have to dirty a bowl to enjoy – all while feeling like I’ve given generously to others.  See what I mean?  Win & win.   But the problem with bake sales is the post-binge heartburn, the sugar headache and the inevitable guilt that comes from hiding 2 pounds of brownies from your family by stashing them in a stack of unmatched socks in the laundry room.  When it’s all said and done, the only thing that makes you feel slightly better about yourself is knowing your money went to a good cause.

So let’s cut out the charade.  I know you’re not out there prowling bake sales for the good of mankind and you know it too.  So I’ve decided to spare you the humiliation of having your secret brownie stash discovered by making my first annual bake sale a virtual one that’s all about raising funds to feed hungry kids.    

Seriously, the latest child hunger statistics are sobering.  According to Share Our Strength.org:

• By the end of 2009, more than 12 million children in the U.S. will be worried about where their next meal is coming from
• 500,000 more children live in poverty in the U.S. now than 1 year ago.
• The highest unemployment levels in 20 years mean that millions of Americans now rely on local food banks and pantries.
• More than 30 million Americans participate in federal nutritional assistance programs – the highest participation level in 40 years. The average benefit per person is $1.12.

Crushing, eh?  So I decided that it was time I stopped supporting my community by buying brownies or even baking brownies.  Instead, I’m participating in the Great American Bake Sale by holding a virtual bake sale.  My goal is to raise $500.

Some other reasons why I’m holding a virtual bake sale…

• 100% of funds I raise will help feed kids.
• It’s a fun solution with a large impact.
• I didn’t have to train for six months to run a marathon or make a large donation to make a big difference.  (Besides, you all know that I don’t run – ever.)

So Loyal Drips, won’t you join me in whipping up a fresh batch of love for the wee ones around us?  It’s been said a million times before but in a country with so much wealth (even now) there’s no reason children’s bellies should be empty.  If saving starving children or donating to a virtual bake sales just isn’t your thing or if you just blew your last bit of disposable income on ramen noodles because of your own scarce food supply situation, please do me the favor of passing on a link to this post or spreading the love via the social networking medium of your choice. 

Remember, this is the best kind of bake sale: guilt-free, fat-free, carb-free, and environmentally friendly!  Thanks for your support!

Love,

~Sam

Here’s the link to my donation site: