Baking for Benefits is a club that bakes together and holds bake sales to fundraise for local charitable organizations. Created by seniors Maddie Press and Esther Pustylnik, meetings are held every month.

Baking for Benefits combines the passion of baking while helping others. Members help to bake goods that are sold in the community at bake sales during the year. Profits go to local shelters or particular causes chosen by members of. As of last year Baking for Benefits, “supported a local family shelter in Rockville called Stepping Stones and a Ukrainian Church in Silver Spring,” President Press said.

For this year, members voted between three different charities and chose the Calvary Women’s Services, which supports homeless women in D.C.. To raise money for these charities, baked sales are held at different locations throughout the community. A few bake sales are held every year and, “we are currently planning a bake sale coming up outside of Dawson’s Market,” Press said.

The goods sold at the bake sales vary greatly and are dependent on the choices of members. During meetings members decide by taking a vote on a handful of options chosen by the presidents. The baked goods chosen are seasonal or the classics. Goods from previous years range from, “brownies, to cookies, meringues, blueberry muffins and much more,” President Pustylnik said.

As of last year, profits from each individual bake sale ranged from $100-$300. Each baked good does not have a set price but the baking efforts are always kept in mind when sold to customers. Last year instead of offering a price, customers gave a donation of their choice and were given a baked good in return. Although there was suspicion people may have donated too little, “we ended up making more than twice as much money this way,” Press said.

Baking for Benefits is open to everyone, and provides a fun and inclusive way to give back to the community. The club was started last year with a total of 70 members and has almost doubled in size since, now with over 180 members. Club members can help to bake goods at their own home or work together at Press’ or Pustylnik’s houses. Members sign up to help bake for a bake sale to prevent making an excess amount of goods.Pustylnik created the idea for this club in 10th grade but needed a partner to help lead it. Both friends had done lots of baking together since sixth grade and knew baking to help the community was a great club for them to lead. As presidents, Pustylnik and Press, “work together to plan and schedule meetings with our club, as well as organize events,” Pustylnik said.

Press and Pustylnik both encourage students to join this club because it is an easy way to help the community while doing something you are passionate about. Students can join Baking for Benefits by emailing the presidents or messaging the instagram, @baking.for.benefit.