SWEET CRAVINGS

Home-based bakery thriving amid coronavirus pandemic

“Being home-based, it’s tough because you cannot sell anything on the spot, it’s always by order. I thought it would do the business well at this point, with nine years into it, to have a retail side where people can call and pick up cupcakes the same day they need something.” — Cupcake Cravings owner Brenda Bals

Cupcake Cravings, a homebased baking business, is quickly establishing itself as a destination in Vermilion with its new downtown location.

“I’ve been a home-based baker in Avon for about nine years, and we just recently opened this storefront,” said Brenda Bals, owner of the business located at 651 Main St. “It actually belongs to Poppin Around, the popcorn shop in Vermilion, and I rent space from them to have a bakery in here.

“We opened Memorial Day weekend. It was kind of rough to open something with the (novel coronavirus) pandemic going on, but it’s been going very well. We love it down here in Vermilion, and the quaintness of it.”

Bals said the business got to the point where she wanted the physical location.

“Being home-based, it’s tough because you cannot sell anything on the spot, it’s always by order,” she said. “I

Community West Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Avon, Fairview, and Lutheran Hospitals are holding its annual Straight from the Heart Raffle where participants have the chance to win a grand prize of $100,000.

This year’s raffle boasts 40 prizes including a Mercedes Benz, Sea-Doo and trip to The Greenbrier, according to a news release from Community West Foundation.

All proceeds provide heart healthy initiatives in the community and support cardiology services within Avon, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, the release said.

In 2019, the Straight from the Heart raffle funded the Youth Movement Challenge which is a fun, motivational contest to help combat youth obesity by encouraging Northeast Ohio school-age children to be more active.

This program awarded up to $5,000 grants to schools for health education equipment, materials and more to help students stay active, the release said.

Youth Movement Challenge is just one of the outreach programs the Straight from the Heart raffle supports.

Funds raised also support live and virtual community education classes throughout the year and has allowed the hospitals to purchase Automatic External Defibrillators for local recreation facilities, local fire departments and the Cleveland Metroparks, the release said.

In addition, raffle proceeds have made local cardiac screening events as well as heart-healthy cooking classes for children possible at no cost to participants.

For a full list of prizes and to purchase tickets, visit www. straightfromtheheartevent.org.

Tickets are $100 each or three for $200.

Winners will be announced Feb. 26.

ZACH SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Brenda Bals, owner of Cupcake Cravings,shows off some of her homemade treats. The home-based baking business has developed into a passion that continues to expand its offerings.