Achi news desk-
A group of bakers in Montreal are coming together to hold a bake sale to raise money for children in Gaza.
“I have a three-year-old child myself, and I couldn’t help but imagine him in these situations, and I just felt very helpless,” said organizer Tamara Leiser. “I just felt like I needed to do something to help in some small way.”
The bake sale is set for Saturday afternoon at the Moving Just Fine Pilates Studio in St. Henry.
Those who wish to participate must register on the event’s GoFundMe page.
“When you donate, leave a comment that says you will participate,” Leiser explains.
The bakers ask for a minimum donation of $55 to fill a box with local goodies.
All proceeds will go to the Palestine Children’s Fund (PCRF), which provides free medical and humanitarian aid to children in the Middle East.
The organization is a registered non-profit organization founded in 1991.
“I want people, even if they can’t attend, to please donate,” Leiser tells CTV News. “It doesn’t go through me at all. It goes straight to them [the PCRF]. So, even if you can’t attend, even if you don’t live in Montreal, just donate, and I hope it will do good.”
Although Lesser admits it’s hard to keep politics out of such a sensitive topic, her hope is to keep the bake sale apolitical.
“We want to help children who are suffering,” she said emphatically. “We have several bakers who contribute but did not want their bakeries to be mentioned, and I completely understand that.”
Leiser adds with Mother’s Day around the corner, the fundraiser is also a way for people to pick up some sweet treats for their families.
“A lot of it has to do with the fact that I’m a mother,” she explains. “I don’t think you have to be a mother to be able to empathize with what’s happening in Gaza, but people will buy treats anyway to celebrate their mothers.”
Lesser says more than 90 boxes have been saved so far.
All desserts left at the end of the bake sale will be donated to Chez Doris.
“Some people donate who won’t collect their boxes and want them to go directly to Shed Doris,” she said. “I hope it will be fun. It’s a tragic thing to happen, but we hope this bake sale doesn’t feel too tragic.”
The bake sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 11th from 4-7pm at Moving Just Fine Pilates Studio (642 de Courcelle St., Unit 305.)
