The recent devastation in Japan prompted the children of the Sandpiper Youth Club, lead by the City’s staff person Telisha Brent, to put together a fundraising bake sale to help. Armed with homemade flyers and great enthusiasm, the staff and children promoted their “Bake Sale for Tsunami/Earthquake Relief” — they informed the community and the school, and asked for donations of baked goods or cash to support their endeavor. City Parks staff also agreed to bake cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and other goodies on their own time, in the name of charity.

Over 25 parents brought baked goods from home and got others donated…in fact, they had over 500 cupcakes and lots of other stuff ready to be sold for a good cause. The bake sale took place last Friday March 18 – you might remember that day had a lot of weather, including a tornado warning (!). Despite the weather, an estimated 300 people purchased baked goods, or just made a donation to the cause. That says a lot about the Redwood City community, and about these Sandpiper students!

These amazing kids raised a whopping $1,042 for Japan relief efforts. And through their actions, they also gained a sense of compassion and caring, and a strong feeling that they have made a difference.

To read more and see pictures, please visit http://redwoodcityparksblog.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/sandpiper-kids-bake-for-a-cause/

The Sandpiper Youth Club is a program of the Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. It’s a fun after school club run by City Parks staff, offering play games, sports, crafts, teaching of life skills, movies, special visitors and presentations, and more! Kids also have homework time during the program. You might want to visit the Parks web page at www.redwoodcity.org/parks .