The pandemic has changed the world in ways we have yet to realize. It is being said that the full effects of this period in history will not be fully captured. Those among us who are lucky enough (thank you frontline and essential workers!) to have extra time at home have turned to all manner of activity to stimulate our minds in the absence of in-person human interactions. Many of those activities range from pottery, to cross-stitching, to video games. It had never occurred to me that baking could be seen as a hobby. Mainly because of the perishable nature of it. Why would I bake a cake that nobody is able to eat? Another thing I had not considered was the cost of my baking materials. I am after all, fortunate to be in a position where I can buy what I need. What about those that don't?
Some of the materials that need constant replenishing
The question I asked myself was this: Are we in western society so privileged and wasteful with food that we bake for fun while some in our communities struggle from meal to meal? The answer is obviously yes. Unlike a musical instrument or another hobby, the skills obtained tend to be very self serving in that the knowledge being acquired is beneficial to only one person. Baking is not like that. When a baker does what they do, they are bringing sustenance into the world. Whether it be bread, or cereal treats, the skills being obtained and refined do not only serve the baker. The product of the outcome has the potential to help feed people; something community centres and youth groups already do.
It's hard not to acknowledge the privilege involved in having enough in life to bake when so few do. So what can we do to help this initiative? Well apparently we have no local or national neighbourly service to connect bakers, with those in need of baked goods. The closest approximation to this utopian idea is Doing Good Together (DGT) out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Essentially you volunteer to bake for the community using recipe cards that are supplied by DGT. With precedent for this concept not only being established, but successful, there is a certain joy in baking for those in need. How lovely would it be to put all of those who love to bake in formation almost militarily speaking in order to stamp out hunger in the homes. In the future I envision a way to mobilize food supplies to those in need within hours of asking. Like the inverse of UberEats.
That one time I tried to work for that dreadful company. Got through one delivery.
We need more empathy built into our businesses. Which is why Cereal Squared has been in touch with a few human rights organizations in order to organize some charitable efforts in the near future. Although announcements are not ready to be made. In the meantime the best thing we can do is reach out to your community. Bake for your neighbours, friends and families. Just please, wait until Covid is over to do so. Lest we run out of hobbies.