a community fundraiser
a collection from the best bakers, artists, recipe developers from the Bay Area and beyond for immigrant rights
Can I still say happy new year?! A bit of me is still in the new year mood, filled with a desire to do better and be better. The year just started, the canvas still quite empty! As of late my days have been filled (and consumed by) my hyperfixation with croissants, multiple visits to Arsicault, making a massive dent on my reading goals, making sure to spend a few minutes in my garden each day, juggling my journal stack (new to me), reeling from good news to bad news, and taking it easy.
Back in 2020, I had started my pastry box fundraiser project. A few of you might still remember those days. A monthly menu and a new social justice organization to learn about and support. 2 years and many pastry boxes later, we had fundraised around $30,000 for various social justice organizations.
I remember those days with such fondness. It felt rewarding knowing that even though I wasn’t an activist of any sort, I could make my own tiny little difference in helping the causes that I believed in through baking. I wasn’t a professional baker or an activist, but, in my own way, I was doing something I believed in. If you remember those days and picked up a box, thank you for being a part of the journey and doing something – anything – that felt like moving the needle towards the right direction.
Much of what has happened in Minneapolis and currently happening all over the US breaks my heart. As an immigrant, I empathize with so many families that are living day to day in fear of ICE and just being in America. I’ve spent many hours doomscrolling and questioning how any of this is happening or possible. I’m sad that I’ve even become desensitized to some of the things.
But, I don’t want to be consumed by despair or hopelessness. I want to believe that we still have power. I know that something is better than nothing. Inspired by my friend Carlos of Seattle Baking Club, I wanted to also organize a community fundraiser for NWIRP.
I hope you’ll join the raffle! It’ll be very sweet. Also, if you’ve been missing my baked boxes, this is probably the only opportunity to get a pastry box from me any time soon. If you’re not in the Bay Area, we also have 2 incredible virtual prizes. As a baker, I think of these as such treasures.
As always, thanks for being here,
NWIRP fundraiser
A community fundraiser for NWIRP. @n.w.i.r.p is an organization that provides free legal help to immigrants facing detention and deportation.
In partnership with friends, small businesses, creators, fellow allies, and incredible human beings, we are able to offer 4 prize packages. Two are for local pick ups in the Bay Area. The other two are virtual. Wherever you are in the world, we hope you can join in.
HOW TO ENTER
🌼 $10 per entry on Venmo to elisasunga. All proceeds will be donated to the NWIRP. Raffle closes on February 9 5PM pst.
🌼 Add “virtual” or “Bay Area” in the note to share your prize preference. Leave it blank if you don’t care which prize you get.
🌼 Enter as many times as you’d like to increase your chances (and support!)
🌼 Share, repost, or DM this to your networks and encourage everyone to join in.
2 BAY AREA PRIZES
So honored to be doing this with the best bakers and artists of the Bay Area. Such a line up! Such an incredible group of humans to support and love. Two prize offerings that combine florals, art, and sweetness. Perfect for literally anyone! You’ll probably have pastry boxes and cakes for the next few months if you win either of these. For more information on the prize offerings, check out this page.
2 VIRTUAL PRIZES
And we even have 2 virtual prizes! A collection of the best of the best of Substack writing I know of from the best recipe developers and storytellers I know. Bronwen of Bronwen Wyatt is also offering a choice of her online classes. So grateful for these friends who have offered to share their knowledge and craft with all of us. Wherever you are in the world, these resources are absolutely essentials for anyone that loves baking.
Full details of the prizes are here.
Please forward this to anyone who might be interested in supporting this community fundraiser, too! If you’ve reached this and haven’t joined the raffle yet, do it now! x