Institute bakers turn bucks to bikkies

Poverty Bay Wairoa Women’s Institute members baked up a storm following a $500 donation from Eastern Bay of Plenty WI members. From left are Cherie Cumming, Liz Clark, Janice Mooney, Padre Bill Gray (who helped distribute bags of baked goodies to East Coast residents), Judy Ball, Mary Bayley, Vicki Crosswell (holding Navy Jade) and Alison Crawford. Picture by Liam Clayton

Women’s Institute members have been busy baking for a good cause.

In 2017 the Poverty Bay Wairoa members sent a cash donation to the Eastern Bay of Plenty Women’s Institute to help out when Edgecumbe was flooded.

The donation was reciprocated this year when EBoP members donated $500 to help after Cyclone Gabrielle.

After talking to people affected by the disaster, the Women’s Institute members here thought it would be better to wait a little while before deciding what they could do to help the communities with the funding.

Poverty Bay Wairoa federation president Alison Crawford contacted Te Karaka resident Jamie Simpson for some ideas.

“He said it was a bit like when somebody passes away. Everybody is there for you so it would be lovely after everybody else has been giving things to be reminded and cared for later on, as well.”

It was decided that a home baking package of two loaves of bread (gluten-free option available) and six to eight packets of biscuits for those affected would be a nice way to contribute.  A call-out was made to member and 26 bags of baking was the final result.

“We did a big bake-off, and split it between Te Karaka and the Coast,” said Mrs Crawford.

Padre Bill Gray from Tolaga Bay picked up bags to distribute between Whangara and Anaura Bay while Vicki Crosswell from Te Karaka handed them out in her area.

An assortment of chocolate chip biscuits, peanut brownies, and some plainer biscuits were on offer, with a note in each bag to say who baked them.

“We felt this was a nice way to do this — for people to sit and have  a cup of tea and a little break, which they all so badly need,” Mrs Crawford said.

Padre Bill thanked the group for their generosity and for their previous support within the community and on Anzac Day.

The institute is always on the look-out for ways to help out in the community. The group also offers friendship, fun, travel and walking groups.  Members are encouraged to share homemaking skills, craft, writing and art for anyone wanting to join.

Its website is wi.org.nz/Site