FREE Cupcakes/Birthday Cakes for Hospitals?

KTGV on 07/07/2016 - 23:30

Hi everyone,
This morning I saw a man with disability who had to push a walking chair himself to move because his hands and legs weren't straight as normal so without the chair he won't be able to move at all. And it broke my heart! I wanted to cry when I saw him. I can't imagine what he has been through and how hard it must be for him.

So a thought came across my mind. I want to bring as much happiness to other people as I could, especially to those with disabilities and difficulties in life such as kids in hospitals and the elderlies.

I work as an accounts assistant (accounting graduate) but I've also completed a Cert III in Patisserie ( I dedicated a whole year for this course because I was very passionate about baking) so I'm confident that I know more about food safety than a regular home baker. It's just the food safety regulations that really put me off. I've been baking for families and friends and no one has been poisoned yet.

I'm not a high income earner but I'm more than happy to spare my own money and my time to bake some cupcakes or birthday cakes to bring to hospitals or any other places where I could make other people happy.
And of course I won't be able to do this very often but I'll try to do maybe once every two weeks.

But due to strict regulations about food safety I'm afraid I won't be able to do this. For example this article http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/playford-…

But I won't be charging money so could someone please advise whether what I'm about to do is allowed/legal? And where in Sydney do you think is best for such activity?

I would really appriciate all of your comments and I really hope I could start doing this soon.

Thank you for your time.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • CrazyMexican on 07/07/2016 - 23:46
    +8

    the world need more people like you :)

    • KTGV on 08/07/2016 - 21:24

      Thank you so much for your kind words :-D

  • spackbace on 08/07/2016 - 00:19
    +2

    Talk to the hospital directly. Don't forget food allergies. All well and good that you're hygienic, but you'll need to ensure you have a complete ingredients list.

    However with the regulations over hospitals, I don't think you'll get permission, I fear there will be a tonne of red tape

    Happy to be proven wrong though :)

  • [Deactivated] on 08/07/2016 - 01:53
    +4

    I used to volunteer and help organise holiday activities for children with disabilities. Baking and cupcake-decorating were always a big hit with the kids:) we also had face-painting, puppet-making, singing, story-telling, talent shows.. etc It was heaps of fun and very rewarding. The Mrs and I got involved through a friend whose son was attending that special school. All you need is a working with children card (WWCC) and agree to a police check. The WWCC is free for volunteers and you can apply for one at the post office. Volunteers were supervised by the school teachers.

    This was the only place I've volunteered where I was allowed to bake, and even then it had to be baked on the premises and only with the ingredients provided by the organisation. If you're interested, contact a special school in your area and they should be able to point you in the right direction

    The other 2 places I volunteer at : a community program for young adults with mental illness and the aged care home close to where I live, both have very strict regulations regarding food. We are not allowed to share food with any of the clients/residents.

    Edit: volunteering at soup kitchens could also be an option.

    • piggyfund on 08/07/2016 - 09:44
      +1

      It's not easy to do a good deed! I remember as a kid none of this stuff went on. We have cake sales and none of the ingredients were ever listed! Certain states are worse than others with regulations.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/07/2016 - 12:47

        True. I'm in Vic.

  • try2bhelpful on 08/07/2016 - 07:54
    +4

    I think the best idea is to search for volunteering organisations that require people to cook for them. You could pitch your idea to them and see if they will back you to do it and leave them to do all the logistics. Best of luck and thank-you for trying to do something positive for others.

    • tomsco on 08/07/2016 - 08:30

      That's a great suggestion.

      OP, all the best to you.

  • piggyfund on 08/07/2016 - 09:42
    +1

    You have a kind heart, even with food that is given away it comes under a lot of regulations and your kitchen will need to be approved by your local council. Lots of hoops to jump over. On top of that a hospital don't want the extra work, liability and risks involved. I know a lot of people think - it's only cakes but you are essentially an 'outsider' and even volunteers must go through some sort of training and have to report in/out. A hospital is not a good place to be hanging around as it is hectic and full of germs anyway. The cafes that are already in the hospital will not be happy if they sell cakes etc. too.

    The suggestion of you working as a volunteer cook may be great if this is your thing, it is more savoury than sweet, I did it for a while and had to stop - there was too much internal politics (Yes! amoung volunteers) and doing the drop off delivery run was really depressing/dangerous at times. Longish hours - 6 hour shifts. I was too tired after work personally.

    You can always call your local nursing home or shelter to see if they would like some cakes, their residents would really like a treat and that way you are dealing with 1 main contact. They usually have a kitchen manager you can talk to.

    You can also do a bake sale and give proceeds to the hospital or your favourite charity. Often they need money more than anything. I had a friend that worked at the Red Cross and he said after a major disaster people donate clothes but they really need money. He said they have boxes and boxes of ties they have no idea what to do with.

    • KTGV on 08/07/2016 - 21:23

      I've been thinking of bake sales too but it also involves dealing with food safety regulations :-(

  • tomorrows_angel on 08/07/2016 - 10:37
    +2

    Have a look at Cake Angels. I'm not sure if you're required to be registered, but they're a fantastic charity who provide cakes to people in hospital, or siblings of very ill children in hospital etc. They have a facebook page and work with various other charities.

    It's so lovely of you to want to help, keep up the awesome effort :)

    • KTGV on 08/07/2016 - 21:22
      +1

      Thank you for your reply! I've just registered to be a volunteer with them. They do ask about registered kitchen and public liability insurance which my answers to both were no :-( but I'm hoping there will be something I can do for them.

  • SimbaGirl on 08/07/2016 - 14:58
    +1

    Some great posts here, and good advice from all. It is a wonderful thought on your part but as others have said, there are a whole host of regulations as well liability issues etc. Food allergies are certainly something that have to be taken into consideration these days, as is the fact that a LOT of hospital patients also have diabetes (usually Type 2) - that's often not the main reason they're in hospital, but has to be taken into consideration with the food they're allowed to eat.

    Contacting a volunteer organisation, Salvation Army, nursing homes etc might be your best avenue - good luck and all the best!

  • KaTst3R on 08/07/2016 - 15:37
    +1

    What about work with the Red Cross? I used to be (during my uni days) in their volunteer program where they cook and distribute food for the poor. Maybe they can do something similar for patients in the hospital. The Red Cross has full sized professional kitchens and volunteers to help out. The Red Cross also has a ton of donated raw ingredients which can be used for what you wanna do.

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