Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief
Saturday, November 4 2017

Photo by Cecile Fusco | Cecile Fusco Photography

Austin Bakes is excited to announce that we are partnering with Direct Relief  for Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief. 

Our mission is to raise $10,000 for those affected in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Virgin Islands, California, and in every part of the world currently recovering from recent natural disasters at the bake sales or through online giving by November 17.

Why Direct Relief? 

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. It is in award-winning organization that was given a 4-star rating (highest rating possible) and the No. 1 spot on the “Best Charity Everyone’s Heard Of” list by Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator for charities.

Since 1948, Direct Relief has worked to help people who confront enormous hardship to recover from disasters and improve the quality of their lives. Today, Direct Relief provides appropriate and specifically requested medical resources to community-based institutions and organizations in more than 70 countries, including the United States. Direct Relief’s assistance programs focus on maternal and child health, the prevention and treatment of disease, and emergency preparedness and response, and are tailored to the particular circumstances and needs of the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Direct Relief has the infrastructure in place to accept a large gift from Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief and to use the funds efficiently where they’re needed most. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit, so gifts towards their efforts tax-deductible.They have an extensive, transparent record of their financial information, including annual audits published online. Read about their recent aid efforts in Puerto Rico

How to GiveBusinesses and individuals supporting Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief can give to the Direct Relief via cash, check and our online giving page. Each bake sale location has committed lead volunteers who will be responsible for managing individual gifts and ensuring that they are accounted for at the end of the fundraiser. We have a game plan in place to track donations, report them transparently, and to make sure every penny ends up safely in Direct Relief’s hands.
Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief is a donation-based bake sale. That means instead of listing prices on each item, we’ll look to customers to decide the value of their purchase and support relief efforts accordingly. We’ll accept cash and checks made out to Direct Relief at the various bake sale locations in and around Austin. Supporters who wish to make a gift by credit card may do so at theAustin Bakes for Disaster Relief FirstGiving page. We’ll be able to make change and break some large bills at the bake sale next Saturday, but we are asking customers who are able to please bring exact change or a check made out to the Direct Relief.

Here is detailed information about our handling procedures for gifts:

Cash: all cash collected before and during the bake sale will be combined into a money order, payable to Direct Relief, after the bake sale on Saturday, November 4th. We will give the money order, along with all checks, to Direct Relief that day. Donors who give cash will not receive a receipt for their personal gift, but they will be able to see how much cash we raised collectively when we report the amount on here our blog and on our Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief FirstGiving page

Checks: should be made to “Direct Relief” with “Disaster Relief” written in the memo line. We will keep a log on our Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief FirstGiving page of all checks that we receive. That way, donors can be sure that we have received their gift and see how their contribution has increased our total fundraising. We will give all checks to Direct Relief on Monday, November 6. Direct Relief will deposit the checks and mail each donor a gift receipt for tax purposes.

Online: gifts in any amount can be made securely online at our Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief FirstGiving page using a credit or debit card. Donors will receive two emails confirming their gift to Direct Relief: one immediately after their information has been received, and a second email confirming that their card was successfully charged for the gift. Donors can see their contribution on the Austin Bakes for Disaster Relief FirstGiving page, and their support will count towards our overall goal to raise $10,000 for Disaster Relief efforts. If your employer has a matching funds program, you’ll have to option to include that information when you donate.