SYLVANIA, Ohio — Some Sylvania Northview High School students are "Baking for Better" by giving up their spare time after school to bake, and not to treat themselves.
Sophomore Gavin Ballard was able to gather upwards of 40 students for a project he came up with as a way to give back.
"I just knew during winter break I was thinking about going into the next semester, I want to do something to give back to the community. I took my passion. I love baking so much," Gavin said. "I'm on the cross country and track team. Ever since I became a runner, baking and food and culinary stuff has been so dear to me."
So Gavin chatted with his mom, who volunteers with the Labre Project, to create "Baking for Better."
Instead of pre-packaged cookies, which are typically included in Labre Project meals for people in need, they will get something homemade from these students.
"They're so thankful. They truly are," Amanda Ballard, Gavin's mom, said. "This helps to feed them for the week and they expect to see the Labre Project volunteers every week downtown at a certain time. So they are very thankful."
When Gavin started getting the word out about "Baking for Better" he had no idea the response from his peers would be so great. In just the first meeting, the packed kitchen of students baked 160 cookies.
"I was absolutely surprised. I saw and they just kept pouring in and pouring in," Gavin said. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is so great.'"
Gavin's idea stood out among his peers.
"A lot of the clubs here are more academic focused or focused on the students themselves," Paige Labudda, a Northview junior, said. "I was actually interested in this one because it did give back to the community. Which we do some of that here, but this is super direct in that everything happens here goes to the community."
The club meets once a week and plans to donate the cookies to various groups in the community, including police departments and hospitals.
It's an effort that makes at least one Northview mama pretty proud.
"I think he's just a great kid and I'm just really happy that the other Northview students have rallied around him and supported him in this idea. I think it's really special," Amanda Ballard said.
The students need donations. They are looking for pantry items like flour and sugar. Eggs and butter are helpful, too. You can drop off those donations at Sylvania Northview, just label it "Baking for Better."
The first round of cookies cost about $80 to make, so the students said they could use your help.
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