A local young couple has come up with the perfect recipe to help others.
Sydney Miller and Michael Veloso are the faces behind Sweets for a Cause, a vegan home bakery that donates 50 per cent of its revenue to charity.
Since launching in August 2021, the duo has raised thousands of dollars to support a variety of causes, including the Georgetown Breadbasket, Upper Credit Humane Society, Links2Care, Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills, Halton Women’s Place and more.
The pair started baking to fill the time during the pandemic and say they were inspired to put their new skills to use for good after running a successful cupcake fundraiser. While they had a goal of raising $100, the orders started pouring in and that number quickly grew to about $350.
“We thought, there’s something here. And Georgetown is the perfect place to do this as it’s such a close-knit community,” said 22-year-old Miller. “So we started kind of on a whim, and it has grown into what it is today.”
The couple focuses their efforts on creating sweets menus for holidays, which they say are the most lucrative for their fundraisers.
Their Thanksgiving offering is a mixed treat box filled with caramel apple pie cookies, pecan shortbread bars and pumpkin chocolate chip bars, with half of the proceeds going to GLO Farm Sanctuary - a vegan farm animal sanctuary in East Garafraxa.
They noted the other 50 per cent of their revenue goes to cover costs of ingredients, packaging, gas for deliveries, etc.
Veloso, 21, puts his business studies to use to make sure their finances remain in order, while Miller serves as the head chef of the operation and is always on the hunt for new recipes.
In addition to doing good, an added bonus is that they enjoy their time in the kitchen together.
“We just get to talk and listen to music together. It’s kind of calming,” said Veloso, who admits he never spent much time in the kitchen before Miller asked him to bake in the early days of the pandemic. “I get to learn things I’ve never done before.”
Making food that she and others can enjoy holds an extra special meaning for Miller as she struggled for a long time with an eating disorder.
“Being able to bake and see other people enjoy my food, then I get to enjoy it with them - it's super healing,” she said.
“It’s nice for me to regain this love of food and enjoyment. Food is not something you need to fear - it’s something that brings people together.”
Those who would like to place a Thanksgiving order can do so here. Orders are being accepted until tomorrow, and delivery is free this weekend within Georgetown and Acton.
For further details, visit sweets.for.a.cause on Instagram.
