Tomorrow, my drive way turns into a fundraising, chaotic place of holiday cheer. Ever since my son was five years old, we’ve held a Charlie Brown style (think Lucy: the doctor is in booth) food stand in our drive way. The concept started when driving home from church my son Cyrus said, “Mom, Father Gary talked about kids who don’t have things, we need to sell orange juice so we can buy them things”. So, there is began in California. The benefactors have ranged from Toys for Tots, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry and over the last few years, our local Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Cyrus’ pal Kienan has joined him for many, many years once the stand moved to Reno. We bake some Vegan, egg free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free and seed free goodies and serve up hot Starbucks coffee.
There are no prices and folks are encouraged to contribute what ever amount that inspires them. Some folks donate $40 for a muffin while offers might donate 50 cents. Kienan’s mom is our official coffee gal and she picks up the donated coffee from Starbucks—yay Starbucks. In our early years, I used to borrow those big containers and brew my own coffee Starbucks coffee, but soon, they insisted they donate the coffee. She also brings over her fire pit and we huddle around it, rain, snow or shine and listen to Christmas music being played on the radio.
During the same exact time, Cyrus’ long time American Lung Association buddy, Isabella, (they volunteer together) is hosting a gorgeous food stand in the Double Diamond neighborhood to raise funds for the Northern Nevada Humane Society. Isabela and her sister Maya have been fostering kittens back to good health by using endless love and nurturing so they will be ready for adoption. Isabela has also created a very sweet (who doesn’t like to see pictures of kittens being nursed back to health and mischief) slide show on her blog to help people understand their work. Good Luck Bela!!! We hope you raise lots of much needed $$$$$!
This was last year’s photo of the boys and one of their buddies
Kienan and Cyrus were so little when we started and now they are taller strong high school students, who have taken over the setting up of tables, washing dishes and helping with the baking! I’m talking truly helping with the baking and not just stacking cookies or placing them in little baggies! We start by baking gluten free first, then egg free, but always dairy and nut free, and then we finally end with goodies containing eggs. By chance, the food bank drove by two years ago and saw the stand and stopped by. The following year, they brought us an official food bank banner! They consider the boys their partner in feeding the hungry.
Of course, we bake according to our whims, but this year here is our goodie list so far…and God knows it might change during the day!
Pumpkin cookie batter–super easy to make!
- Vegan Pumpkin Cookies – Vegan (egg, dairy and nut free)
- Peppermint Cookies (my personal favorite) – Vegan (egg, dairy and nut free)
- Oatmeal Cookies – Vegan (egg, dairy and nut free)
- Vanilla Cookies – (Dairy and Nut Free) . These are in need of flavor help so I might whip up an orange or chocolate icing for these sometime today
- Soy Buttermilk Coffee Cake – (Dairy and Nut Free)
- Soy Sour Cream Coffee Cake – (Dairy and Nut Free)
- Vegan Chocolate Applesauce Muffins – Vegan (egg, dairy and nut free) with raspberry jam inside
- Rocky Road Cupcakes – Vegan (egg, dairy and nut free)
- Blue Berry Buckle – (dairy and nut free)
- Pumpkin bread – (dairy and nut free)
- Vegan banana muffins – (Vegan, egg, dairy and nut free)
- Cardamon coffee cake muffins – (dairy and nut free) or Snickerdoodles muffins…I still can’t decide!
- Sponge Cake or Angel Food Cake – (dairy and nut free)
I will try to type up these recipes by the end of next week! some of these are listed in my recipe section already. I hope you enjoy the weekend and if you are inspired, please consider a donation to your local food bank.
Wish us good luck with donations!
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One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Amazing how you’ve brought together family, friends and baking with a little music to create a giving tradition. Love reading your posts and certainly all of your proactive work! So inspiring:) happy holidays!
Thanks Dana! Funny how something some simple has turned into a nice tradition..neighbors swing by, strangers bop over and friends cruz by in the jammies for our “drive up” service! It’s a kick. Well, back to baking!!!!! I need to have the cake like stuff done so by after school the kids can package up!
What a great lesson for your kids!
The orange juice stand in the beginning was a challenge as my husband was the chief squeezer! It’s fun baking together. Tonight some kids will come over and help package up stuff. To keep the egg stuff separate from the non-egg we bag those up first! Hope for sunshine tomorrow. Wish you were in Reno Homa!