Baker Dillon Group Bakes Cake for Charity

FRESNO, Calif.The Baker Dillon Group, Starbucks, Rodeo Coffee Shop and AlphaGraphics have partnered to provide fresh-baked Thanksgiving banana cakes to Poverello House in Fresno, a private, nonprofit, nondenominational organization that has been serving the hungry, homeless and destitute for 37 years. Karena Dillon from the Baker Dillon Group will bake the three dozen cakes using donated ingredients and deliver them to the Poverello House, which now serves approximately 1,250 to 1,400 meals a day, 365 days a year.

The cake-making idea was the brainchild of Sheldon Baker and Dillon, principals of Baker Dillon Group, the Clovis, CA-based brand marketing, advertising and public relations firm. I didnt have plans for Thanksgiving and, we thought about how we could provide a service to the community," Baker said. This seemed like the perfect way."

Baker first approached John Sanders, California central valley district manager for Starbucks about contributing bananas. Sanders requested one of the Clovis stores order an extra case of bananas that could be used for the project. Eggs were donated by Rodeo Coffee Shop in Old Town Clovis, cakes mixes from AlphaGraphics in Fresno, and the other condiments and baking coordination by Baker Dillon Group.

Dillon, who often makes cakes for the firms vendors, is preparing all the cakes over a 24-hour period and will deliver them Thanksgiving morning. Poverello House was delighted to receive this dessert donation which they said would be used throughout the Thanksgiving Day weekend," said Dillon. We just decided to do this a few days ago, and we didnt have a lot of time to gather the ingredients," Baker said. But all the organizations we contacted were more than willing to ante up the baking supplies."

In 1973, Poverello House founder Mike McGarvin began offering peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the homeless and hungry of the community. Through the years, inspired by his example, others began to lend a hand.

Were already thinking about next year, and with an earlier start and more participation, we might make peanut butter and jelly cupcakes and cookies," Dillon said.

Other Poverello House services include free medical and dental care through the Holy Cross Clinic; showers and laundry services to the homeless; a day shelter for people on the streets; a safe, overnight shelter for women at Naomis House, temporary shelter for 44 individuals at the Village of Hope; a 28-bed residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation program; a five-bed transitional home; free clothing, mail service, transportation, referral services and other various social services; and even a homeless dog kennel for abandoned pets.