Albuquerque, N.M. (KKOB) – This Thanksgiving, 82 Albuquerque families will gather with loved ones, creating memories around holiday treats they may not have had access to without a generous new initiative. Early next week, pies, cakes, and festive yule logs will be carefully crafted by 47 local bakers, then donated to Albuquerque’s first-ever Thanksgiving Match-Up. The match-up pairs bakeries with local families who will receive their treats for free Wednesday, November 23, 2022, just in time for Thanksgiving. Event organizer and owner of Sky’s Sweets, Skylar Shafer, says she came up with the idea to give back to her community. “We’re not asking anyone to prove why they deserve the help. All we asked was their name, phone number, and any allergies. Our goal wasn’t to judge who needed it, just to give back when lots of people are struggling.” But, it’s not just local families who will benefit from the event. Other bakeries as far away as Indiana saw the request for applications being shared on social media and have started their own match-ups across state lines.
Amanda Jones, owner of A Heavenly Taste Cakery, says it has been a blessing; not only to give back but also to share in the holiday spirit with people in her industry. “Anyone who’s spent time in a kitchen knows that we’re all working hard together, so to see it happening outside of Albuquerque because of what we’ve started here just feels really good.” In addition to the baked goods, several families will also receive $50.00 Smith’s gift cards to help ease the financial strain a Thanksgiving meal can cause. This year, inflation will see the meal cost a whopping 20% more than it did last year. According to a new survey released Wednesday by the American Farm Bureau Federation, a feast for 10 with 12 menu items including a turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie will cost $64.05 on average — up $10.74 from 2021. Right now, Shafer says 15 gift cards have been donated, but they are hoping to bless more of the 82 families they’ve been paired with through additional donations over the weekend. To donate a gift card, reach out to Shafer at [email protected] by no later than Monday, November 28th, 2022 at 5 p.m.
