Donated bakery goods to charity

[DisneyMarathon]

A friend of mine who is a good baker would like to donate a basket full of her home-baked goods to a local upcoming charity event. She also hopes to include some information about herself and, perhaps, people would contact her for future orders.

Has anyone done this before? She is an excellent baker but she is concerned about receiving complaints about her cookies.

 

[powellrj]

I am not sure unless she uses a licensed kitchen, they would be able to accept them. I know when my mom started baking cakes for people, even though she was just doing a few for friends, their insurance required them to have their kitchen certified by the board of health. They turned the family room into a licensed kitchen!

Because of liability issues, most places only accept items that are labeled and from a licensed kitchen.

 

[golfgal]

I would have her do a gift certificate for her baked goods. First, how long will they be in the basket at the event-I wouldn't bid on something like that not knowing where they came from, how long they sat around, etc. She could do a certificate for 2 dozen cookies a month or a cake for a special occasion, etc.

 

[Muushka]

I volunteer at an organization that provides temporary housing for the about to become homeless. Every Thursday we meet with the families for a meal and then go over their finances and lives. There is a local bakery that donates all sorts of things to our dinners. The volunteers bag up the leftovers and the families take it home with them. You could suggest contacting a church (ours is held at the church, but is not a religious organization) to find out if there is anything going on.

 

[mousey]

I have attended theme tray raffles where someone donated a basket of baked goods. The people that want to win this sort of gift usually put there tickets in for it. The only problem is that there will be 1 winner and unless they share it, that's only 1 person tasting the actual products. If they really like it, will they share her name, or if they dislike, share her name??
If she wants to get herself out there, she should sign up for a local craft show and display a table of her "goods" and either sell them cheap or give away samples. She could end up with some orders that way.

 

[chell]

The gift certificate does sound like a better idea as does the goodies for meetings.

Do they have goodies to eat during the actual charity event? That could be an option for her. That would give her maximum exposure and be the most beneficial to the charity.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The gift certificate does sound like a better idea as does the goodies for meetings.

Do they have goodies to eat during the actual charity event? That could be an option for her. That would give her maximum exposure and be the most beneficial to the charity.

My thoughts also.

For our auctions, where a persishable gift is given we ask the person to make a basket with (in your friends case), maybe a cookie jar and gift certificate. In front of the item, individually wrap a cookie and tie her business card to it. Also make sure to write a little free sample card. If she is actually there she can restock the cookies/muffins etc, and if not ask the coordiantor to do it for her and offer the organization some free items for the workers for helping her out.

 

[Imzadi]

The gift certificate does sound like a better idea as does the goodies for meetings.

Do they have goodies to eat during the actual charity event? That could be an option for her. That would give her maximum exposure and be the most beneficial to the charity.

My thoughts also.

For our auctions, where a persishable gift is given we ask the person to make a basket with (in your friends case), maybe a cookie jar and gift certificate. In front of the item, individually wrap a cookie and tie her business card to it. Also make sure to write a little free sample card. If she is actually there she can restock the cookies/muffins etc, and if not ask the coordiantor to do it for her and offer the organization some free items for the workers for helping her out.

I like both these ideas. I gave a piece of my handmade pottery away to a charity auction once. One of the incentives of the charity was so that the people/organizations giving could advertize themselves a little. This was their way of getting something while donating. It was a win/win for the charity & the donators that way, as well as the recipients who won the auction items.

 

[chell]

Another reason to have actual goods there is to make people want to bid on or purchase her items. If they have never heard of her or her bakery they may be hesitant to purchase. But once they taste how awesome her good are they will be more willing to purchase.