Local volunteers can help bake birthday cakes for the less fortunate — in this case, children and seniors.
Birthday Cakes 4 Free is a non-profit organization with a Lehigh Acres chapter close to FGCU.
The organization bakes cakes for kids up to age 18 and seniors 65 and older. People can request cakes for an upcoming birthday. The organization offers different options for the cakes, including cake or cupcakes, different flavors, size and any design or theme.
Elicia Hammond founded Birthday Cakes 4 Free in January 2010. For her 40th birthday, Hammond wanted to help others, so she raised money to throw a birthday party for someone less fortunate. When that didn’t work out the way she expected, she got involved with a nonprofit, Free Cakes For Kids. After about a year of volunteering, she started Birthday Cakes 4 Free.
Besides being the founder and director, Hammond also bakes cakes for the Santa Cruz chapter in California.
“Before I started Birthday Cakes 4 Free, I rarely cooked. In fact, I hated cooking,” Hammond said in her autobiography on the organization website. “Baking cakes inspired me to try other things, and now, I enjoy cooking. And, I am getting pretty good at it. I am mostly a self-taught baker. I took one decorating class but learned mostly from books, videos on YouTube, websites and asking lots of questions.”
Volunteers for the organization can bake or deliver cakes, secure donations or help with marketing. Professional baking skills are not required to bake cakes.
To get involved with the Lehigh Acres chapter, email [email protected], or to contact Hammond, email [email protected].