the love

Sweet gestures spread kindness

Chrissie Dunn loves to bake and back in October when her Coatesville friend Bronwyn Hicks told her about the Good Bitches Baking group who bake for charities, Chrissie didn’t think twice before joining.

Good Bitches Baking was started in Wellington in 2014 by Nicole Murray and Marie Fitzpatrick with the goal of making Aotearoa the kindest place on earth. Six years later, they're well on their way to achieving it. Today GBB is a registered charity and its founders were awarded the Order of Merit in the 2019 Queen's Honours List. Their network of GBB volunteers has grown to almost 2500 people who together support over 170 charities throughout New Zealand. Community awards have followed and the well-run organisation is spreading its caring message around the country, including in Coatesville where Chrissie is one of a team of bakers who regularly bake a batch of something yummy for those who could do with knowing people care. "Sometimes it’s for the Salvation Army or for SCBU, there’s a whole range of charities we deliver to,” explains Chrissie. “We never meet the people who receive the baking. We drop off to

the charities and they distribute it themselves. "Basically the idea is to give a moment of sweetness to a person who’s experiencing a tough time.” she says.

Above: Chrissie (left) with fellow Good Bitch baker Lianne Jamieson. Centre: Chrissie's morning tea cake stand. Below: A typical cake box with a note listing ingredients and describing what's inside.

The commitment isn’t onerous. “All we have to do is bake a slice, or a batch of biscuits or a cake once a month, place it in a cardboard cake box and someone will collect it and take the baking to the charity we’re supporting.” Co-ordination is key and a "bitch in charge" manages the roster of bakers and drivers who make the deliveries. Although they’re mostly women, men are welcome to join and volunteers can choose how

often they want to bake. It’s not about flash patisserie-style baking either. Traditional Edmonds Cookbook type recipes are just fine. The special ingredient that’s in every recipe is the kindness each baker sends to the person who receives their baking. However, the actual ingredients used are listed on a card that goes to the recipient – just in case someone in the house has an allergy or food sensitivity. Bakers can also write a brief message and say hello and make serving suggestions.

The GBB network is nationwide and welcomes new volunteers. You can join as a baker or if cooking isn’t your strength, you can be a driver. If you’re interested, email akl-north@gbb.org. nz or visit the website www.gbb.org. nz. There are no meetings, just a weekly email and a visit from the driver to collect your cake box at the agreed time and day on the roster. ∞

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