Haiti Earthquake Relief: Bay Area Bake Sales and More!

Across the country and here in San Francisco's food community, people are stepping forward to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti. Restaurants, organizations and individuals are all doing their part, including a huge bake sale that will take place in three Bay Area locations next Saturday. Read on for more details and use the comment section to list efforts in your area. A bake sale can change the world!

Here are a few of the Bay Area relief fundraising efforts:

• Samin Nosrat has organized a huge bake sale in the Bay Area for January 23rd from 10AM - 2PM. Locations are Bi-Rite Market in SF, Gioia Pizzeria in Berkeley and Pizzaiolo in Oakland. She is looking for bakers as well as buyers: visit her blog for details.

• Chronicle Books will be holding a bake sale today in their lobby in San Francisco from 11AM - 2PM.

• The vegan communities have really stepped forward as well: As of this writing, there are bake sales being held in SF, Portland, NYC, DC, Sacramento, Orange County and LA. See the Post Punk Kitchen Blog for details.

Is the a bake sale or other such effort being held in your community? Get the word out in the comments below!

And if you would like to donate directly to an international organization, we recommend Partners In Health and UNICEF. We have followed Partners In Health (and Dr. Paul Farmer) and their work in Haiti for a long time. We also have direct experience with UNICEF and their work for children.

• Partners In Health - Haiti
• UNICEF - Haiti

(Image: Dana Velden)

Comments (16)

I love it as well. Thank you!

Thank you for posting this! I work for an international humanitarian organization, Concern Worldwide, and we need all the help we can get. Our team was responding within hours of the earthquake.

Concern has a stock of emergency supplies in Haiti, and another shipment is scheduled to go out early next week. We have 41 years of experience in sudden onset natural disasters as well as emergencies caused by war and civil conflict—we are a leading organization in emergency response and 100% of your donation will go to our Haiti emergency fund.

You can donate at www.concernusa.org

Thank you!

I'm helping to organize a bake sale in Chicago on Monday (1/18) at The Hideout as part of their Benefit for Haiti.

If anyone in Chicago is interested in donating baked goods, email me at joannam@apartmenttherapy.com.

It would be wonderful to have members of The Kitchn community involved!

Thanks for sharing this great idea, Dana!

*sigh.* As usual, it looks like San Jose is not participating in a cool Bay Area initiative. After living here for just short of two years, I'm beginning to think that the whole "Velveteen Rabbit" joke about this city may be true...

Why not try to spearhead something, Kealoha? There are plenty of cupcakes places in San Jose (both larger chains like Kara's and some independents) that might jump on board. Or any of the larger restaurant areas (Santana Row, San Pedro Square)... Shooting off an email to the businesses with a link to these initiatives in SF might yield some results.

I'm also holding a bake sale at my company to help - hoping to raise $1000 at the end of the week for UNICEF. I'll post the results/recipes on my blog (www.quitecurious.com)

I'm making two things, filled chocolates (boxed for gift giving) and pocket pies, and I'm underwriting 100% of the expenses for ingredients and wrapping materials. When I sell them (Tuesday), to friends and coworkers, I'll be donating every dollar coming in and specifically through my company portal because the company's matching every dollar donated at 100%. Now I'm just trying to think of what's a reasonable amount to sell them for to ensure they're all sold quickly!

Check your employer, because many are matching donations, let's double as many dollars as we can!

I had to check back in because I absolutely love these ideas. I have been feeling so helpless, as if my donating money isn't enough. My husband has two uncles there that we have yet to hear from. I really want to do as much as I can. I love all the different initiatives in raising more money for such a wonderful cause. I have a friend who loves to cook as much as I do. I think a bake sale is a great idea and we could even sell truffles. I am off to recruit her. Thanks guys!

My son told me this morning that his pre-k class is baking cookies next week and selling them with the proceeds going to Haiti relief. That's such a great idea to get the kids involved like that.

I am happy that I stumbled upon this site , while trying to find out how to help people in Haiti . Bake sale seems like a great idea & I think I will plan one in my area ( Bayarea - cupertino) . May be I will involve my daughter who is a girl scout in this . I will come back & keep you all posted . I am happy I came to this site.. Feels like one should act NOW !!!

"I have been feeling so helpless, as if my donating money isn't enough."

But it's not about your feelings, it's about your actions. Donating money to a worthwhile, well-run charity is the best thing you can do.
Count up what you'd spend on ingredients, gas, power, etc., and skip the brownies and write a check.

FantasticMrFaux are you serious? Out of everything written. This is what you decide to comment on. "I have been feeling so helpless, as if my donating money isn't enough." You have got to be kidding me.

I like many other people feel helpless and feel as if I am not doing enough. I feel even worse knowing that my husband is worried about two of his uncles. People wanting to do more is really what Haiti needs right now, because most people will forget all about Haiti in a month or so. Let people contribute in the way that they choose too. As long as it isn't illegal, there is really no reason to complain.

If people want to bake cookies, brownies, make candy to help those in Haiti; do not discourage them. They are doing something, and every little bit helps.

Like I mentioned earlier, I did my own one-woman bake sale at my own company. Here are the results: http://www.quitecurious.com/haiti-bake-sale

:)

We did it ! We did an event called "BOX FOR A CAUSE" . We started as a bunch of stay home moms cooking & selling dinner boxes. Many moms signed up , kids helped us pack & dads with logistics. It turned out to be a great success primarily because we were able raise funds for a worthy cause & at the same time give our kids a good life lesson . We had a deep sense of satisfaction at the end of this , thanks to all our supporters. check our blog : momscupertino.blogspot.com for more info. Again , I am happy I stumbled upon this page ...