Never underestimate the power of a group of moms with cupcakes

Like many parents, when Susana Molinolo first heard the news of Haiti's devastating earthquake, she could barely comprehend the destruction or stand to see the images on television and in the newspapers.

Almost immediately, though, the co-chair of Bowmore Public School's parent council felt that some sort of school fundraiser was needed, so she contacted fellow parent council mom Nancy Botelho for support. Remembering the brisk cupcakes sales at the school's winter concert, they quickly settled on the simple concept "Cupcakes for Haiti."

Really, this blog post should be entitled "Never underestimate the power of a group of social-media savvy moms with cupcakes." Because when Susana emailed Rachel Muir, senior designer at Top Drawer Creative, she had a poster back within an hour that was soon used to replace profile pics on Twitter and Facebook, helping the event go viral.

Meanwhile, Susana had started emailing other Bowmore parents, former colleagues, neighbours, etc. asking for support and for bakers to come forward. Late last week a colourful array of cupcakes were piling up at Susana's home. On Saturday, at the sale outside the house she shares with husband Brian Gahan and their 3- and 5-year-olds, people purchased cupcakes for prices ranging from $2 a piece to (wait for it...) $437.50. (The high-priced cupcakes were part of a box from Desmond and Beatrice that was auctioned.)

The event has raised $9800 for Medecins sans Frontieres, and that donation will be matched by the Canadian International Development Agency. Some funds are still trickling in, and all in all Molinolo estimates this bake sale will likely raise a total of $20,000.

Here's how one friend Russell Gienapp described the event:

On one small patch of front lawn in the east end of Toronto, on a chilly Saturday, $9800 was raised for Haiti relief. What Susana Molinolo sold were just cupcakes (don't get me wrong they were yummy). What the people who bought them ate was a symbol of community building and the ability of people to come together for a... much-needed cause without a lot of glitzy pomp. Simple, effective and every neighborhood could do something like this.

To see more pics from Cupcakes for Haiti, check out Susana's twitter feed. She's also written about the event on her blog.

Susana and her volunteers exemplify the difference a group of motivated people can make with simple actions and a lot of heart.

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Comments

[John Merritt]

The power of pots and bakings tins. Just what was in that cupcake for $437? If I could afford it, I want me some of that. Great job ladies, gentlemen, children and everyone who contributed. It is amazing the power of the people when they are working together for a common good. Out of the darkness eventually the sun will shine through, and for the people of Haiti their dark days are hopefully behind. Now if we can get some true government responsibility from 'their leaders' than maybe poverty will be replaced with prosperity and their fears with hope, trust and belief.

[Misslynx]

What a wonderful thing to do!

I saw something similar on a much smaller scale in my own neighbourhood on Saturday - a mom and her two kids had set up a little stand with a toy cash register at a kid-sized table, where they were selling homemade cookies to raise money for the Red Cross.

It's so inspiring to see grassroots efforts like this, and especially kids getting involved. I think it's a great way to teach kids compassion and social responsibility.

[E.]

Amazing! Our school sold hot chocolate for 25 cents a cup and made over $200.00--wonderful team effort for a school of less than 200 kids. It is beautiful to see children taking the extra steps to make sure that their pennies and nickels are going to those who need it most. Hat's off to those helping to raise socially conscious citizens!