Buffalo Sprinkle Squad: 50,000 Sweet Celebrations
For many children, birthdays are filled with balloons, candles, presents, and a cake made just for them. But for thousands of young people in foster care or experiencing homelessness, poverty, or other difficult circumstances, those celebrations are often overshadowed or don’t happen at all.
That simple reality inspired For Goodness Cakes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has at least one moment that is entirely their own. Through its nationwide network of volunteer bakers, affectionately known as the Sprinkle Squad, the organization partners with foster care agencies and community organizations to provide custom birthday and graduation cakes to children and teens overcoming adversity.
The organization’s mission is rooted in the belief that a thoughtfully made cake represents far more than dessert. It is a tangible reminder that someone took the time to celebrate that child, helping nurture confidence, optimism, and belonging during some of life’s most challenging moments.
Recently, “A major milestone just got a whole lot sweeter,’ says Sara Dunaj as the national organization reached an extraordinary milestone: 50,000 cakes delivered nationwide. Powered by volunteer bakers across the country, the organization has grown from a grassroots effort into a nationwide movement, proving that something as simple as a personalized cake can have a lasting emotional impact.
Executive Director and founder Jaime Lehman reflects on the significance of the achievement, saying, “Every cake says, ‘you matter.’ Fifty thousand cakes means 50,000 moments where a child felt remembered and valued.”
The organization’s name also carries deep personal meaning. Lehman credits her late father for its clever title and says birthdays in her own childhood were always memorable because of the love surrounding them.
“My dad was the cleverest man I’ll ever know,” Lehman says. “He and my mother made each birthday more memorable than the last, and the cake was always the highlight of my day, where in those moments I felt peace knowing people cared.” She adds that her father “would give until he had nothing left, then give some more,” a spirit she continues to honor through the work of For Goodness Cakes.
While the 50,000-cake milestone celebrates a national achievement, its impact is perhaps best understood through the volunteers working quietly behind the scenes in communities like Buffalo.
Behind the Scenes with Buffalo’s Sprinkle Squad
Born and raised in Buffalo, Lauren Blarr has always known she wanted to work with children. Today, she fulfills that dream as an elementary school teacher, describing one of the greatest joys of her career as helping students who are new to the United States discover life in Buffalo. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, reading psychological thrillers, cheering on the Buffalo Bills, and baking.
For Blarr, baking has always been intertwined with family. “I always say baking is truly in my blood,” she says. Instead of daycare on Fridays, young Lauren spent the day in her grandmother’s kitchen, measuring, pouring, and mixing alongside her. One memory still makes her smile: attempting to make blue Scottie dog spritz cookies for her mother, only to produce delicious blobs instead of recognizable dogs.
Those early kitchen memories evolved into something much deeper. “Baking is my way of making people feel good, and making people around me happy is a feeling I am always chasing,” Blarr says. “You could be having the worst day, but I guarantee you a cupcake is going to make it a little easier.”
Three years ago, a conversation with her husband about future family plans, including adoption and foster care, led her to research local resources. She discovered the Western New York Foster Closet, learned about its partnership with For Goodness Cakes, and immediately recognized an organization whose mission closely matched her own values.
After volunteering for about a year and completing roughly a dozen bakes, Blarr stepped into a leadership role as Buffalo’s Volunteer Steward. She says, “Our work is important because we give kids and teens something to have on their day, just for them. The kids and teens we serve don’t always have something special to look forward to, so the cakes or cupcakes they request are that something special.”
A Community Effort
Although Blarr serves as Volunteer Steward, she emphasizes that Buffalo’s chapter is powered by an incredible leadership team. Agency Steward Candace Alnaji coordinates with partner agencies, ensures cake requests are accurate, and recruits new agency partners. Donor Steward Bridget DeMeis focuses on fundraising to support local operations. Their responsibilities frequently overlap as they work together to keep the chapter running smoothly.
The numbers demonstrate just how much the Buffalo community has embraced the mission. The chapter includes approximately 400 volunteers, partners with 37 agencies, and has delivered more than 1,600 cakes and cupcakes throughout Western New York.
The process itself is intentionally simple. Partner agencies complete questionnaires with each child, allowing them to choose favorite cake flavors, frosting, fillings, colors, and themes. Volunteers then browse available requests through an online portal and select the cakes they are able to create.
“The beautiful part of being a volunteer is that you can bake on your time,” Blarr explains. “The volunteers can pick and choose what bakes they want.” Some bakers enjoy elaborate decorated cakes. Others prefer simpler cupcake orders. Some volunteer monthly, while others participate only a few times each year. “All schedules and abilities are welcome,” Blarr says.
"What keeps me going is the fact that we are delivering smiles to kids on their birthdays and graduation days. They may be feeling many different things while in foster care, so getting to provide a slice of comfort and happiness is what motivates me to keep this chapter going.”
Delivering More Than Dessert
While volunteers spend hours baking, decorating, and delivering cakes, what they are really providing is something much harder to measure. Blarr says, “Kids new to Buffalo due to immigration, teens awaiting to see where they get placed next within the foster care system, and kids facing impoverishment don’t always get the opportunity to celebrate a milestone. Being involved with For Goodness Cakes changes that.”
She believes anyone can become part of that change. “Baking, delivering, and donating are all ways to help keep our mission alive and thriving in Buffalo,” she says.
The impact is reflected in feedback from partner organizations. After receiving decorated cupcakes, Tonawanda Middle School shared, “The cupcakes were adorable and the kids loved them. The effort and creativity the bakers provide does not go unnoticed! Thank you for all you do for the kids.”
Similarly enthusiastic responses have come from SM Josette Food Pantry, where staff praised themed cupcakes and shared comments from recipients who were “blown away” by beautifully decorated cakes and delighted by their taste.
The WNY Foster Closet described a delivery as “Amazing and well loved!”
For Blarr, moments like these reaffirm why the work matters, and she adds, “What keeps me going is the fact that we are delivering smiles to kids on their birthdays and graduation days. They may be feeling many different things while in foster care, so getting to provide a slice of comfort and happiness is what motivates me to keep this chapter going.”
Blarr insists the real heroes are the volunteers, “the backbone of our chapter.” She describes Sprinkle Squad members who routinely rearrange busy schedules to ensure a particular child receives a cake on time, dedicating countless hours to making every creation feel special.
She also notes that Buffalo’s generosity stands out within the national organization, saying, “Every single month our volunteers clear our calendar, and I have volunteers that ask for more! I am beyond proud to be a part of this organization, and I cannot wait to see how much more we accomplish here in Buffalo.”
As For Goodness Cakes celebrates 50,000 cakes nationwide, the organization looks toward the next 50,000 celebrations. Whether you enjoy baking elaborate cakes, decorating cupcakes, making deliveries, or supporting the mission financially, there are many ways to help ensure every child feels remembered on their special day.
To learn more, visit www.forgoodnesscakes.org and discover how one cake can create a lifetime memory.
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