Save up your calories this week because the sweetest fundraisers are coming to your town, with bake sales being held in support of animals in need as part of Cupcake Day on Monday, February 26th.
The Tully Team of Realtors at the Bowes & Cock’s Limited Brokerage in Peterborough is kicking the national day off and inspiring others this week by presenting a cheque of close to $1,250 to the Peterborough Humane Society, which agents raised at a cupcake sale last Tuesday (February 13).
While the cheque is no small amount, it’s not the only National Cupcake Day ‘paw-ty’ happening across the region. Along with efforts by the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society to help organize fundraisers with a goal of raising $70,000, the day has also become an opportunity for businesses, organizations, and individuals to host their own bake sales to make direct donations to their local shelters.
“We’re friends with humane societies and rescues right across Canada and we’re all collaborating individually and celebrating puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs with Cupcake Day,” says Judi Cannon, executive director of the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes.
“Bakers and enthusiasts are busy doing individual bake sales — bringing cupcakes to hockey games, work, school, or anywhere — and collecting funds to bring into their registered humane societies or rescues.”
On Monday, the team at the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes will be putting on a tasty spread, inviting bakers to drop off the sweet treats between 9 and 11 a.m. The sale will continue until 4 p.m., inviting community members to come in, purchase some cupcakes, and tour the shelter.
The initiative is already spreading the goodwill in the community, as participating neighbourhood businesses in Lakefield encouraged The Chocolate Rabbit to take part and start whipping up their own home-baked cupcakes.
“I thought it would be something fun and different to get involved in and I’m a huge animal lover,” says Kristine Webster, The Chocolate Rabbit’s marketing merchandising manager. “It’s such a wonderful initiative.”
On Saturday, February 24th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or until supplies last), chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with a buttercream frosting will be available at all three The Chocolate Rabbit locations in Peterborough’s East City, Lakefield, and Bancroft. Sweet tooths are encouraged to pre-order their cupcakes online, either individually or in packs of six, or drop in to any location.
“We wanted to give the option where people could buy more if they wanted to share, but then still have an option if they wanted to buy just one,” says Webster. “Especially in our areas, where people are walking by with their dogs or their families on a Saturday.”
For those who may still be fighting a sugar hangover from Valentine’s Day, The Chocolate Rabbit provides the opportunity online to donate directly to the cause without making a cupcake purchase. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society
“Being in three different locations, I didn’t want to select just one,” says Webster, referring to which animal shelters to support. “We did Ontario as a whole so all three of our stores that are in different communities can participate and the funds can be allocated to the areas in Ontario that need it the most.”
According to the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes, Cupcake Day is a ‘purr-fect’ time for the fundraisers as local animal shelters, often depending on donations, are continuing to face an increasing number of animal surrenders.
“Right across Canada, there’s been an unprecedented amount of requests for services,” says Cannon. “People and families are having a hard time staying together with their animals. With housing insecurity and costs in food and living, it’s really affecting the animals in our community.”
Cannon notes that funds from Cupcake Day fundraisers can go even beyond care for the animals, by providing supports to local pet owners by funding medical costs and running the society’s pet pantry — a service that is becoming more and more necessary.
“When families are having a hard time making ends meet, we have a pet pantry that they can come to and we’ll give them some dog food or cat food — whatever is needed — to help them through the month,” says Cannon. “That way we’re supporting people and pets staying together.”
In addition to fundraisers at the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes and The Chocolate Rabbit, other organizations and businesses across the region are participating in Cupcake Day.
In Cobourg, the Northumberland Humane Society is encouraging businesses to indulge in a whole week of sweet treats, promoting several events including a bake sale happening at Port Hope’s Lakeridge Chrysler on Monday, February 26th and Paulmac’s Pet Food Campbellford’s commitment to donate all proceeds from every sweet treat purchased on Thursday, February 29th.
In Peterborough, the Champlain Animal Hospital will be selling homemade cupcakes from February 26 to March 1, with an ambitious goal of beating the $400 donation they made last year to the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society. Those looking for other events and participating organizations in the region are encouraged to search for #CupcakeDay on social media.
“It’s fun because we’re not quite sure who’s doing what,” says Cannon. “It’s just these magical fairies across Kawartha Lakes who decide to pick up on social media and say, ‘hey we want to bake, and bring the funds in.’ We anticipate a lot of support which is always the case in our community.”
Cannon notes that there are also lots of “fairies” in house at the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes who will be sharing their baking skills in competition with one another next week — and she’s already readying herself for the responsibility of being the taste-taster.
As for Webster, now that she’s discovered the initiative, she’s already plotting next year’s event when she has more planning time in advance of Cupcake Day.
“I already have a folder of recipes ready for next year,” she says. “Hopefully, we can have some really cool campfire designs for out Bancroft location, and we’re looking at getting chocolate moulds that are smaller so we can have a little piece of our Swiss chocolate on top.”
For this year, visit www.thechocolaterabbit.ca to place an order for Cupcake Day.
