Marblehead —   A few weeks ago, Noam, 9, and Yoni, 7, asked their mom how they could earn money. They were brainstorming the usual ideas like selling lemonade, cutting someone’s grass, walking a dog, watering plants for a family that is on vacation, babysitting once they were older. None of those ideas really seemed appealing to them until Noam said: I would like to bake cakes. Being a family where a lot of baking from scratch is done, this seemed like a good idea.

A new business was born with two very enthusiastic young businessmen. Mom Patty saw this as a good opportunity to teach her sons several different skills at once. How do you start a business? How do you market it? What do you do with the money you get? How do you keep a balance sheet? And more importantly, what cakes can you make with little supervision? She made sure that the boys understood that starting their business meant real work and responsibility. They would have to clean the kitchen after making a cake. They would have to understand that clients like quality products, made with a high standard of hygiene (no tasting of the batter with your finger!) and serious effort.

Then came the discussions about the income. This business was going to be a wonderful way Noam and Yoni could learn about tzedakah. Mom explained to them that first, they would have to set aside a part of their earnings that would cover the costs of the ingredients for the cake. Then she let the two boys choose a charity where they would donate 25 percent of the money they would get for each cake. They decided pretty quickly that they would like to give tzedakah to the kosher Food Pantry, a program of Jewish Family Service of the North Shore.

They knew about the Food Pantry since they had volunteered there before. Patty liked the idea, since it would make charity for the children more tangible. They could take the money earmarked for charity, go to the supermarket to buy groceries and then deliver them to the Food Pantry. This would mean a lot more to the boys than just writing a check and sending it by mail.

Last but not least, there would be money left from each sale of a cake that would go into Noam and Yoni’s piggy bank. Knowing that interest in the actual work of making the cakes could slow down fast especially if baking competes with watching a video, a rule was put in place that whoever makes the cake gets to keep the money.

Baked goods that are being offered for now by “Swiss Pastries” are a Velvet Vanilla Cake, Banana Nut Muffins, Scones and a Swiss Apple Cake. No preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors are being used and everything is made from scratch.

As experience and demand grows, the menu will be expanded.
Anyone living in the Marblehead area who is interested in trying one of these deliciously tasting, freshly baked goods and at the same time would like to support the kosher Food Pantry during this challenging economic time, please call 978-500-9052 to place your order.