It started with Easter weekend. I baked a double batch of chocolate chip cookies with m&ms to take to Faith’s house for Easter Sunday. I baked 86 cupcakes for Emersyn to take to school on Monday to sell for the charity of the month, Baobei. I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate cupcakes with butter cream frosting. I was in the kitchen from 9am to 5pm. By the time I finished baking all day, I was mentally done baking until next month for birthdays – so I thought.

Emersyn was selling cupcakes for the charity of the month, Baobei. Baobei is an organization that provides surgeries for children with special needs. They work together with the medical staff of Shanghai Children’s Medical Center to give operations to children with physical and developmental disabilities. These surgeries cost between 30, 000rmb and 50, 000rmb. Baobei means “precious child”. Baobei places many of these children into “Healing Homes” as they await adoption. Concordia’s goal for the month is 120, 000rmb to provide three surgeries. Plastic water jugs are located throughout campus to collect wu mao (small change) to make a big difference in the lives of the small children who benefit from the program that provides life changing surgery for children with birth defects. Both of Emersyn’s teacher have adopted Baobei babies. Emersyn decided to sell cupcakes on her own to help meet the goal of the month. She had a little cupcake business from her home room, Ms Poppell’s room. Students and teachers would seek her out after lunch for a sweet treat.

She sold her cupcakes for 5rmb ($.80). She made 600rmb ($95) on cupcake sales for the week. Since many people were looking for the sweet treat after lunch, I made cupcakes the following weekend to fill the demand. They sold out in 3 days as it was a short week of school to collect 260rmb. One last weekend of baking to make a double batch of chocolate chip cookies with m&ms. My cookies were even better from the tips I leaned at the cooking class. Her total cupcake/cookie sales was 1, 120rmb ($177). Not bad proving every person can make a difference.

Now, I am done baking for charity. In May, I will be busy making the chocolate birthday cakes. I used up my supply of powder sugar so I’m on the hunt for boxes that are not a solid block of sugar!