Cakes for Occasions Steps Up for Tsunami Relief

Kelly Delaney has a mission and a goal — to raise as much money as she possibly can to aid the American Red Cross’ efforts to assist the Japanese victims of last week’s devastating Tsunami. The idea, cupcakes “To Help Support Tsunami Relief,” came to her while driving in her car, Delaney said. She was excited to get working on giving.

“This is something that affects everybody,” Delaney said, as she gestured in wide sweeping motions around her cake shop, on Maple Street in Downtown Danvers.

“I really wanted to do something for the relief efforts in Japan. What’s happened there is just heartbreaking,” she said.

That “something” turned into Japanese inspired cupcakes and cookies sold by the half dozen for $7.50, with all proceeds donated directly to the American Red Cross. The treats display red flowers and the Japanese characters for “strength,” “courage” and “peace,” as a show of solidarity to the Japanese people for the horrific tragedy.

“I came up with the Japanese characters because I really wanted people to know what they were for, instead of just focusing on putting roses on them and making them pretty,” Delaney said. “When you see these cupcakes with the symbols on them, you know they’re for the tsunami relief.”

She decided to make the cookies with an edible graphic of Japanese characters and edged in sugar so that customers would have the option to send them directly to loved ones in Japan or elsewhere who have been directly affected by the tragedy.

“You know, I realized that although the cupcakes are really great, they really can’t be shipped and I wanted to have that option if people wanted to send these out to loved ones, and let them know we’re thinking of them,” Delaney explained.

The cupcakes and cookies are displayed on a table in the store, along with other varieties of treats, all for the effort. Delaney expects to continue making them for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of packages available, but if customers are planning to purchase in bulk for school or church groups and the like, it may be better to call ahead to place the order.

Delaney and her business are no strangers to charitable causes; her cupcakes and cookies “To Help Support Tsunami Relief” is just one more way she is trying to make a difference in people’s lives.

“We always give money to different charities; in fact, we have a Cakes For Caring charity that we like to put into that spreads out our donations to several different charities, so this is part of that,” she said.

For now the fundraising effort has not been given an end-date and sales are proving strong with over $300 earned in only two-and-a-half days.

“We have no idea how long we’ll do this for; I plan on making these and donating as long as they need the help,” Delaney said. “I was asked, ‘What if you end up making 10,000,’ and I said, ‘Then I’ll make 10,000!’”

For further details on how to purchase the special cupcakes and cookies, click here.