Baked goodies can be a boon for the Humane Society
THE LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY IS in the midst of one of its biggest fundraisers of the year with their Bake for the Animals campaign being held throughout the month of February.
Running through March 8, the event aims to raise $10,000.
Having grown out of the Ontario Humane Society’s Cupcake Day, the fundraiser offers several ways to get involved. Those wanting to sell baked goods can set up their “online bakery” with the goal of asking for donations when they sell their items. Another option is the “Pastry Path,” where people can earn stamps on card for purchases to be entered into a prize contest.
The Humane Society is also encouraging local offices and schools to get involved by hosting bake sales.
“We’re really excited to bring it back again this year. It’s something that’s been growing, as we’ve seen people going back to the office and being able to gather in person again. So, we’re encouraging community groups, offices, individuals who love to bake to make some baked goods, collect donations in exchange for their sweet treats, and then donate the funds to our animals,” said Leah Caravan, coordinator of events and campaigns for The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth.
Although Bake for the Animals has only been going for a few years, it has become one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers, Caravan said.
“It’s a really accessible way for people to get involved, if they love animals, that maybe don’t know how to contribute. Everybody is familiar with the concept of a bake sale. Everybody loves baked goods and so it’s a pretty
pretty easy campaign to get involved with,” she said.
There are four businesses so far that are registered as part of the Pasty Path, this includes Maverick’s Donut Company in Kitchener, Bellissima Cake’s in Waterloo and two businesses in Stratford. These types of partnerships are crucial to what the Humane Society does, Caravan added.
“Obviously, monetary donations are important, but also just making those relationships strong within the community helps us because there may be in-kind donations or services they can provide to us that will help our animals find
their forever homes. It’s also good for corporations. We have corporate volunteering opportunities here at the Humane Society where you can get a team of your co-workers and you can come in, do some volunteering for
the day,” she explained. “It’s also a great way for businesses to increase employee engagement and add something meaningful to their day.”
More information can be found online at www.kwsphumane.ca.