Sweet Blessings Background

Taken from the Sweet
 Blessings Facebook page

Sweet Blessings is a volunteer-based organization that is run in the basement of the Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church.  This nonprofit was created to give children who are living with medical problems or in poverty special cakes for their birthday.  All of the cakes are funded and created by local volunteers so that the parents do not have to worry about paying for the cakes.  Ashley Gann is the founder and director of Sweet Blessings.  Her idea to start this organization in 2011 came from her love of baking, and her love of God.  She felt a calling to give help to those in need around Lexington, and she believed God wanted her to do so through her cakes.  Every cake comes with a bible verse that shows the child that they are being prayed for by volunteers.

Take from
sweetblessingscakes.org

All of the cakes made by Sweet Blessings are specific to the child.  I was luckily able to volunteer for the first time this week, and I was able to see how the theme of each cake is decided.  For every cake there is background information about what the child likes to do, their favorite colors, and their favorite characters.  Creating the cake is more special knowing that the child will be genuinely excited to see it.  The cakes are not like regular cakes, most are multiple tiered and are covered in fondant and gum paste which gives the cakes more excitement and appeal to the child.  I believe that it is important to make children feel special on their birthdays, and the fact that these children come from not great home lives makes it all the more worthwhile to give them a special cake.

Coloring with edible markers

As mentioned before, I volunteered yesterday for the first time with Lanie, another member in our group.  During our time there we were able to use the edible markers, make bow loops out of gum paste, learn how to box each cake, and make our own cake.  The cake we decorated was for a little girl, and it was covered in stars that we made ourselves.  Watching the cake come together was very rewarding when I thought about how happy the little girl would be to receive it.  Throughout the night, Ashley was very helpful with any and all questions, and she made sure that we stayed busy.  I am excited to go back many more times because as Ashley told us, the more times you volunteer, the more cakes you get to make.