Austin Bakes for Japan, the first Austin Bakes fundraiser
The idea for Austin Bakes came about on Twitter in 2011, shortly after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. News was spreading of a national bake sale movement to benefit Japan, and a group of Austin food bloggers agreed to work together to host a bake sale for Japan here in Austin.
Hundreds of home cooks, food bloggers, and local businesses came together for that first bake sale, and since 2011, the all-volunteer effort has raised over $60,000 for natural disaster relief at four citywide bake sales. Participation in Austin Bakes is open to all, and many volunteers and bake sale site leaders have helped with all four sales.
Previous dates and fundraising totals for sales:
Austin Bakes for Japan
April 2, 2011
Benefiting AmeriCares
Total donated: $11,809.06
Austin Bakes for Bastrop
October 1, 2011
Benefiting Austin Community Foundation for the Capital Area
Total donated: $13,993.51
Melissa by Melissa Skorpil
Austin Bakes for West
May 4, 2013
Benefiting AmeriCares
Total donated: $19,416.92
Photo by Melissa Skorpil
Austin Bakes for Austin
November 30, 2013
Benefiting Austin Disaster Relief Network
Total donated: $5,412.95
Austin Bakes for Nepal
May 23, 2015
Benefiting Americares
Total Donated: $6930.21
Austin Bakes for Refugees
November 14, 2015
Benefiting Americares
Total Donated: $1,269.46
Austin Bakes for Haiti
November , 5 2016
Benefiting Doctors Without Borders
Total Donated: $2,136.
Photo by Cecile Fusco | Cecile Fusco Photography
Austin Bakes for Harvey
September 16, 2017
Benefiting Americares
Total Donated: $20,110
Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief
November 4, 2017
Benefitting Direct Relief
Total Donated: $4,107.08
Austin Bakes 