Northern Virginia Bakeries Support Ukraine With Sold-Out Sale

VIENNA, VA — When Russia invaded Ukraine, residents around the world looked for ways to support the Ukranian people. For a group of bakers in Northern Virginia, the best way they knew how to help was baking.

Sarah Marshall, owner of Vienna-based The Sweet Life NoVA, knew baking was a way to help when seeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the news. She reached out to her friend Sarah Fiacco, owner of Little Carousels Macarons Co, to see what she could do. Then she started contacting other bakers, both ones she was familiar with and others she's heard of.

Aside from The Sweet Life NoVA, 13 other bakeries got involved: Little Carousels Macarons Co, Bake to Bless, Lucy Q's, Flourloom, Momma Lemon's Treats, Delicioso Decor, Harper G Designs, European Cakes in VA, Madeleine Proust, Sweet Gratitude Bakery, Ola's Bakery, From Maddie's Kitchen, and Treats and Sweets 4 U.

"Everyone wanted to contribute their homemade treats to raise funds - everyone was completely on board with no hesitation!" Marshall told Patch in an email. "That's what I love about this community!"

The bakers each contributed desserts for boxes of baked goods with all proceeds supporting humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Marshall coordinated the group of bakers through email, and within 48 hours, they had a logo, timeline, packaging plan and list of desserts to include in the boxes.

SEE ALSO: Ukrainian Sisters Share Food To Support Humanitarian Relief

They initially planned to offer 12 boxes. Customers could order the boxes online by making a minimum $75 donation supporting humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Those boxes sold out within seven minutes, according to Marshall. The bakers have a growing wait list and plan to offer 12 additional boxes. As of Wednesday evening, the bakers have raised $2,500 to support Ukrainian relief.

"We all committed to making 2 dozen treats each to start and almost all of us are stretching it to now make 4 dozen this week," Marshall said.

The bakers will meet Sunday to assemble the boxes, giving them a chance to meet the other bakers in person for the first time. Customers will pick up the boxes Monday at designated locations in the greater Vienna area. After the work is done, the bakers plan to meet again Tuesday at Madeleine Proust in Vienna to share a box of the baked goods.

"These bakers are impressive - they're adding this on top of the existing business orders, parenting, family plans, and life events," said Marshall. "They truly have big hearts."

The bakers haven't ruled out another round of orders. Customers may join a wait list if boxes become available at a future time.