I'm joining the lovely and talented Jote, who blogs at Bless Her Heart for her annual blog project, 30 Days With a Gratfeul Heart. I've done this in the past, but with last year being so hectic and heartbreaking, I missed it in 2012. I'm happy to be back on the gratitude wagon this year, and will be blogging as close to daily as I can manage, with a very thankful theme.
Day 01/30: Help From My Friends
I'm kicking this year off on a local note. I couldn't be more grateful for the special community that I've found here in Austin. I met my first handful of Austin foodies in 2011, when they organized a citywide bake sale in response to the Japanese tsunami. The bake sale raised thousands of dollars for disaster relief in Japan. The massive effort achieved something amazing, one cookie at a time.
Four sales later, Austin Bakes has raised more than $50,000 for disaster relief. Just to put things in perspective, this isn't some huge non-profit with employees and board members. Austin Bakes is just a group of friends and neighbors who want to use their skills to help out other human beings in need.
Being an organizer this time around gave me a peek into what goes into throwing these events. Let me tell you that none of it would be possible if it weren't for the support of the Austin food community. From local businesses to home cooks, everyone who plays a part in Austin Bakes is essential to pulling the whole thing off. If we didn't have bakers donating their time and skills, or hungry patrons to come out and make donations, none of it would work. If there weren't local businesses willing to donate space and portions of their sales, or volunteers ready to peddle treats on sidewalks, Austin Bakes wouldn't amount to much. With their help, it amounts to something very special indeed.
Austin Bakes is a beautiful example of the phrase, "every little bit counts". I couldn't possibly come up with thousands of dollars on my own, but I can send an email, write a blog post, or bake a batch of cookies. Sometimes you can feel powerless against the terrors of natural disasters or random tragedies. It's truly a gift to be reminded that while you might be small on your own, you can accomplish big things with the help of your friends.
I think of all the handmade signs, the cheer-leading tweets, the carefully crafted treats all tied up with strings, and the jars full of generous donations, and my heart swells with gratitude. I'm so thankful to be among such great company. Thanks, Austin.
