Today, I need to use my blog voice for a more important message than desserts or recipes.
More important than chocolate?!?
Yes, yes. Some things are. Hard to believe, but it’s true.
I grew up in Japan.
The Japanese culture greatly impacted my life. My babysitter, my father’s sweet secretary, the 100-year-old sensei (teacher) from whom I learned origami… these people helped shape who I am today.
As a whole, the Japanese are some of the kindest, most well-mannered people you’d ever want to meet. So their current situation is heartbreaking. I just keep thinking, “Why did it have to happen to such wonderful people?” (Not that I wouldn’t think the same thing if the devastation occurred elsewhere. You don’t want something like that to happen anywhere.)
Every time I watch or read about what’s going on in Japan, I feel useless. I’ve already donated money, but I’m nowhere near as wealthy as Britney Spears (who reportedly gave millions to the country). Isn’t there another way I can help? Then I realized…
Duh, Katie! Your blog!
I have a voice… but what good is having a voice if you don’t use it to help? So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to use my blog to ask y’all to help me help them. I know a lot of you feel exactly as I do: “I’ve already given money. What else can I do?” What else can you do?
You can eat!
We are food bloggers (and readers), after all. 
.
“Help Japan” Blogger Bake Sale
On Tuesday, April 5th, I’ll host a blogger bake sale to benefit the Red Cross. If you’ve never participated in a blog bake sale before, here’s a little about how it works: bloggers (or readers) offer to donate a food item (just like in a regular bake sale) and people will bid on these items. The highest bidders will make a donation to red cross (more on how to do this later), and the baker will ship the actual food to the winner.
Ways you can help:
- Donate a vegan baked good
- Bid on a baked good, during the virtual bake sale (April 5th)
What do you think?
If you’d like to donate a baked good, please send me an email with the name of the food, a photo, and where you’ll be willing to ship, by this Saturday (April 2nd). (Also, because this is a vegan blog, all items must be vegan. They don’t need to actually be baked, though. Raw treats are welcome!)
I’ll donate something too: These Fudge Babies.
Sam @ the neurotic yogini says
omgosh! cute little katie! what a great idea! 🙂
Luciana says
I just saw this! What a great idea, and I’ll definitely be bidding and spreading the word!
Lala says
Just posted about your fundraiser on my blog! 🙂
amber says
i sent you an email with my donation and pictures. are you sending confirmation emails back so that we know you got our emails ok? 🙂
Christin@purplebirdblog says
I can’t wait to see what you have to offer on Tuesday! You have such a giving and loving soul.. just one of the many reason why I love you so much! xoxo
Eliza says
I have been following your blog for a few months now but for some reason just today this post popped up as a recommendation. I grew up in Japan as well and it’s a nice surprise to know you did as well! I love your blog, keep up the good work!
Wendy Yamazaki says
Hi Katie,
I have been following your blog for a few months now and made a few things of yours and I must say they are GREAT! Thanks very much for sharing! Surfing through your blog today to look for something else to make, I found and read this post. Neat! You grew up in Japan! I am a nissei Canadian. I also teach high school Japanese. 日本語は 話せますか。
Anyway, keep up the good work with the blog! では、またね！
Wendy
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aww konichiwa, Wendy! 🙂
Your comment made me smile so much!
Hannah Harper says
I find it AMAZING at what you’re doing. In fact, I grew up in Japan as well! And I was actually IN Japan when the earthquake hit. I wasn’t in a major zone, but I had just been in Yamagata, where our friends there felt it pretty badly. And I totally agree with the fact that the Japanese are such nice people! But it was also good that it happened there, because everyone is just so nice, and they share what they have. (Not that others wouldn’t)