Baking for Better is a 501(c)(3) student-operated organization that raises money for charity by selling baked goods. It was founded by Alex Gregory, a senior at Hempfield High School. Alex explains, “With the help of my friends and community volunteers, we make and sell baked goods, donating every penny we raise to different charities around the world.” Alex has donated to 24 charities and raised $21,578.55 so far.
Baking for Better was started in 2020. “At the beginning, it was very small, and mainly just my mom and me making desserts. Now, the charity has grown into something I could have only hoped it would have,” Alex shares. Alex says her biggest accomplishment is being able to say that over $21,000 has been raised for people in need and knowing that people are benefiting from her work.
Alex was inspired to create Baking for Better after reading the book, “Free Lunch”, by Red Ogle. The book follows a middle school student who does not have enough financial resources to afford lunch. Alex explained that she “wanted to figure out a way to help these people who are struggling”, so she called her local food bank, hoping to donate baked goods. However, after learning that they could not accept prepackaged food, she had the idea to sell baked goods, and then donate the money to charity. This idea created Baking for Better. Alex shares, “It feels so good knowing that you may have been a small part of something great and that you are helping people get the resources that they need to live comfortably”.
Alex hopes her efforts will inspire people to donate their time to helping others. “The more people that want to help allow more change to be made in a community or even in the world”, she explains. “Speaking from experience, volunteering and donating time and money to others is a great feeling. I’m so grateful for everyone who has donated their time and money to support Baking for Better and the charities that we donate to”.
