Want to make a difference for some very deserving kids and their families? Are you an individual looking for a volunteer opportunity? Perhaps you belong to a church, service club – even a business – that wants to take on a special volunteer project. Cookies for Kids' Cancer is a project to raise money through bake sales for pediatric cancer research. Individuals and groups of all ages can get involved; plus, 100% of the profits go directly to cancer research for kids. Can a simple bake sale make enough money to make a difference? You bet it can!
Why the Interest in Pediatric Cancer Research?
"Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children," according to pediatric oncologist, Dr. Gregory H. Reaman, from the website, Stand Up To Cancer. In his article titled, "Research Cures Childhood Cancer" (2008), Reaman goes on to say, "The vastly improved pediatric cancer survival and cure rate is one of modern medicine’s greatest success stories. Childhood cancer cure rates have climbed from less than 10% in the 1950s to nearly 80% today. Collaborative research has been responsible for this."
Did you know that pediatric cancer is an "orphan disease"? From the Cookies for Kids' Cancer website page titled, "About Kids' Cancers" (Staff, 2011), read the facts, including this one: "Pediatric cancer is referred to as an 'orphan disease' because there is little or no profit to be made by the pharmaceutical companies and that is the reason why they ignore pediatric cancers for the most part."
How Did Cookies for Kids' Cancer Start?
It was a dreary winter day in February, 2007, when Gretchen Witt learned that her two-year-old son had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called neuroblastoma. This type of cancer only had about a 30% survival rate. Why such bad odds, she wanted to know? Witt was astounded to learn that lack of funding by the government and pharmaceutical companies was one of the reasons more research and clinical trials hadn't been done to find a cure or treatment. As most any mother would, Witt took matters into her own hands.
250 volunteers stepped in to help support a bake sale like no one had ever seen before. 96,000 cookies were sold over a period of three weeks, for a grand total sum that exceeded $400,000. The project didn't end there, however, as the public wanted to buy more cookies. More people wanted to get involved.
Why not have more bake sales – make it easy to support Comprehensive Cancer Centers across the country? And that's how Cookies for Kids' Cancer began. Since that first bake sale, the Cookies for Kids' Cancer Foundation has grown into a national organization with supporters around the globe. The one goal of thousands of volunteers is to improve the survival rates of not just one, but all pediatric cancers.
Hosting a Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale
The Cookies for Kids' Cancer website provides information to get started on hosting your bake sale, including how to register and how to advertise your event. The site provides location and sales suggestions, plus Cookies for Kids' Cancer logos to print on banners, letters and brochures. There's an organized list of preparations and tips for selling the baked goods, as well. Use the suggested tips, tools and ideas to get the most from your bake sale.
The size of the bake sale depends on how many volunteers donate baked goods and how many customers show up for the sale. You'll want to do the best job possible, because you're representing the Cookies for Kids' Cancer organization. That said, be sure to recruit family members, friends, church or synagogue members, coworkers and acquaintances to contribute baked goods.
Can Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sales Include Other Money-Making Events?
Other money-making events to go along with the bake sale are a good idea, but make sure everyone understands that 100% of the money collected goes to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Use your imagination and have fun! Get the kids involved, too. Be sure to advertise your event in local free newspapers, on your Internet blog and on the radio. Email friends and have them spread the word, too.
Here are a few simple ideas for drawing bigger crowds to the event:
- Face painting for kids
- Garage sale from donated items
- Book sale from donated books
- Plant sale from donated plants
- Cookie art (For a reasonable donation, a child can sit at a table and decorate a big plain cookie that he gets to keep.)
- Pet show (Provided someone will donate the ribbons).
How Can I Make a Donation to Cookies for Kids' Cancer?
Not everyone has the time or is into hosting bake sale events. Supporters are invited to make online contributions to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Donations are also accepted by mail. Send your gift to:
Cookies for Kids' Cancer
31 Hoffmans Crossing Rd.
Califon, NJ 07830
Here's another way to donate: Buy cookies from the Cookies for Kids' Cancer website for yourself or to give as gifts throughout the year. See the "Send Our Cookies" page for details. Hand-baked gourmet cookies are made from all-natural ingredients. The cookies contain no trans-fat and your purchase is tax-deductible (non-profit cause). Choose from Triple Chocolate Chunk, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut, Chunky Peanut Butter and Chocolate Almond Coconut Crunch, just to name a few enticing selections.
A bake sale may not sound like much, but with the right effort, anyone can make a huge difference. With the right effort, lives can be changed. Gretchen Witt proved what effort can do. Her son, Liam, is one of many kids that have benefited from pediatric cancer research – and the funding that made the research possible. As one mom took a stand to further pediatric cancer research, so can you. Why not plan a Cookies for Kids' Cancer bake sale today? Every cookie sold brings us closer to a cure.
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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