Today, I need to use my blog voice for a more important message than desserts or recipes.
More important than chocolate?!?
Yes, yes. Some things are. Hard to believe, but it’s true.
I grew up in Japan.
The Japanese culture greatly impacted my life. My babysitter, my father’s sweet secretary, the 100-year-old sensei (teacher) from whom I learned origami… these people helped shape who I am today.
As a whole, the Japanese are some of the kindest, most well-mannered people you’d ever want to meet. So their current situation is heartbreaking. I just keep thinking, “Why did it have to happen to such wonderful people?” (Not that I wouldn’t think the same thing if the devastation occurred elsewhere. You don’t want something like that to happen anywhere.)
Every time I watch or read about what’s going on in Japan, I feel useless. I’ve already donated money, but I’m nowhere near as wealthy as Britney Spears (who reportedly gave millions to the country). Isn’t there another way I can help? Then I realized…
Duh, Katie! Your blog!
I have a voice… but what good is having a voice if you don’t use it to help? So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to use my blog to ask y’all to help me help them. I know a lot of you feel exactly as I do: “I’ve already given money. What else can I do?” What else can you do?
You can eat!
We are food bloggers (and readers), after all. 
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“Help Japan” Blogger Bake Sale
On Tuesday, April 5th, I’ll host a blogger bake sale to benefit the Red Cross. If you’ve never participated in a blog bake sale before, here’s a little about how it works: bloggers (or readers) offer to donate a food item (just like in a regular bake sale) and people will bid on these items. The highest bidders will make a donation to red cross (more on how to do this later), and the baker will ship the actual food to the winner.
Ways you can help:
- Donate a vegan baked good
- Bid on a baked good, during the virtual bake sale (April 5th)
What do you think?
If you’d like to donate a baked good, please send me an email with the name of the food, a photo, and where you’ll be willing to ship, by this Saturday (April 2nd). (Also, because this is a vegan blog, all items must be vegan. They don’t need to actually be baked, though. Raw treats are welcome!)
I’ll donate something too: These Fudge Babies.
Hey, Katie! This is a really great idea and I’m glad you’re doing such a wonderful thing. I’m trying to think of what I might be able to contribute that’s shipping-friendly. 🙂
One thing I’d like to suggest: The Red Cross is a wonderful charity, of course, but if you’re concerned about how much money actually goes to the efforts, perhaps you’d consider AmeriCares? When I collected money for the Katrina Victims in ’05 (I literally stood outside of the entrance to a flea market-type garage sale with an empty coffee tin… I was 11 and cute, so it totally worked) I did a ton of research on which charity I should contribute to, and in my research I found that AmeriCares donates 99% of their proceeds to the cause (keeping only 1% for other expenses): http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3289
The Red Cross donates 91.8%: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277
Either way, it’s a wonderful thing. I just wanted to let you know! Red Cross is the popular choice, of course, but AmeriCares uses much less of its proceeds for purposes other than charity and I think it might serve a better purpose here, where you want as much money going to Japan as possible. 🙂
The problem with smaller charities is that sometimes they just don’t have the pull or the resources that come with a big name like Red Cross. Sometimes they’re not allowed in, or they don’t have the ability to get to the places that need it most. I’m sure AmeriCares is a great charity, but I’d stick with Red Cross because it’s got the means to really get things done. Just my thoughts, though. Obviously no matter where the $ goes, it’s a good cause (as long as it’s an accredited charity, of course).
You can count on my bid! I will be traveling the next few days, and therefore won’t be able to donate an item, but you better believe I will be bidding on one (or more!). I love your outreach and enthusiasm 🙂
Such a great idea Katie! I am for sure going to participate. I’ll have to think of what I’m going to donate and then I’ll email you!
Great idea! I’ll think if I can come up with something that will ship well, and if not, I’ll definitely be bidding! Thanks for coming up with a way that we can all help and feel like we’re doing something!
Thank you, thank you! Your snickerdoodles look amazing! And since they’re gluten-free, I think they’ll probably be one of the most popular treats!
Aaaa! I love this! Great idea Katie! I recently particpated in my first blogger bake sale a few months ago and I’d love to do it again. I’ve never made vegan goodies except for raw balls, and since there will probably be many varieties of those offered in your bake sale, I quickly came up with a recipe for vegan Cinnabon caramel corn instead. I started on it as soon as I read this blog and I’ve now eaten a good amount of it (yum!) and taken pictures and will post the recipe to my blog within the next hour, with info on your bake sale so my readers can bid. Do you want me to give you a link to it or do you prefer me to email the picture without a link?
woww how awesome Katie! you’re so sweet~and I am very hopeful that something good will result from this tragedy.
Katie this is an awesome idea…and thank you so much for bringing awareness and doing a great thing!
I knew you grew up in Japan but didn’t know much of the details so thanks for sharing. I love the little Katie w/ her chopsticks picture!
And I am going to try to donate something…I will hopefully be sending you an email 🙂
I will be bidding on WHATEVER you make. I’m always eyeing your food!
This is such a good idea! My best friend from elementary school lives in Japan- I am donating to the Red Cross 🙂
I would love to do this, I just have to figure out what to make and get a picture of it.
Katie, I really want to help out with this! I’ll practice my baking, or unbaking, I’m not fantastic at it but I’ll try for this!