Bake Sale Helps Re-build New Orleans Bakeries

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Bake Sale Helps Re-build New Orleans Bakeries
Friday, February 17, 2006

BAKE SALE FIT FOR A KING HELPS RE-BUILD NEW ORLEANS BAKERIES

Community Invited to Purchase King Cakes For Fundraiser

General Mills to donate up to $20,000 to help 50 bakeries in New Orleans area damaged by hurricane

(FEB. 17) — To help reinvigorate the New Orleans baking community, General Mills will be baking and selling King Cakes for a fundraising event at The Bagel Factory in New Orleans on Thurs., Feb. 24. Proceeds will be donated to the New Orleans’ Retail Bakers Association (RBA) to help rebuild local bakeries damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

King Cakes are a New Orleans bakery tradition during Mardi Gras. The festive cakes are braided and decorated in the Mardi Gras colors—purple, green and gold—and contain a special surprise, such as a bean, pea or coin to signify good luck.

General Mills and The Bagel Factory will donate the ingredients, supplies and bakers to prepare approximately 500 King Cakes, which can be purchased for $14.99 each. General Mills hopes to raise approximately $6,000 during the event, and will donate up to $25,000 more in March through a bakery mix promotion — the company is donating $5 for every bag of Danish mix sold to bakeries across the country through March 10.

The Bagel Factory, located on the corner of Oleander and Carrolton, was dealt a devastating blow by hurricane Katrina, but owner Rusty Mazik enlisted local community members to help rebuild his bakery.

“With the help of three crews from Trinity Church, we were able to get our bakery back on its feet again,” said Mazik. “With everyone’s hard work and dedication, we hope to re-establish ourselves as one of New Orleans’ premier bakeries.”

The Bagel Factory recently re-opened its doors, and now Mazik is stepping up to help other local bakeries recover. Another local business contributing to the event, KingCakeShop.com, is hosting artist Ray Cole, who will be signing his commemorative “Mardi Gras Everlasting” limited edition posters.

This week, employees at General Mills world headquarters in Minneapolis will be baking King Cakes and selling them to employees to raise additional funds for the New Orleans RBA.

Event Sidebar:

The public is invited to a fundraiser to help rebuild New Orleans’ bakeries. Mardi Gras King Cakes can be purchased for $14.99, with proceeds benefiting the New Orleans Retail Bakery Association.