Cupcakes for a Cause
Story by Kristian Keef
If you would like a fun way to raise money for your outdoor club, here is an example of how three neighboring schools worked together to raise $1200 in one day.
Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe in Brunswick offers a monthly fundraising opportunity for local organizations called Cupcakes for a Cause. Their cake team designs 100 custom gourmet cupcakes, which the benefiting organization sells at the bakery, receiving 100% of the $9.95 cost for each cupcake.
Teens to Trails applied to be a beneficiary in March 2023. The bakery promised that cupcakes are popular with customers all year round, and no one month is better than another to sell them. Instead of Teens to Trails receiving the money directly, we invited local schools to provide volunteers to sell the cupcakes. The proceeds would be proportional to the hours worked by each school.
As a member of the Teens to Trails’ Youth Advisory Council, I helped organize this effort. I recruited student volunteers using Signup Genius and made announcements at school about the opportunity. Teens to Trails also sent an email to local supporters and promoted the fundraiser via social media with a photo of the “Campfire Cupcake.” The signature cupcake was available in either vanilla or chocolate with a ganache topping decorated with flame colored buttercream frosting, a cookie log and mini marshmallows - they were beautiful and delicious!
Nine volunteers from Brunswick High School, Morse High School, and Brunswick Junior High School signed up for 90- minute time slots. Between 8am and 3pm, we sold all 100 cupcakes!
It was so incredible to see the students' faces light up when a customer took interest in the cupcakes and asked us about our outdoor clubs and the trips that we take. Most customers were very generous and excited to help out, even if they didn’t buy a cupcake (quick tip: have a jar at your table for general donations).
The day was really fun and was a great way to meet new friends. Most volunteers stayed longer than their 90 minute shift, and two of us stayed the whole day. We also had exchange students from Kazakhstan and Ukraine join us, and they were eager to offer their support in the community.
It was so wonderful to have Wild Oats Bakery & Café support us, so schools can create more opportunities for students to get outside. Think your school would like something like this? Contact a local business or baker in your region and see how they might be able to help.