Annual Lackawanna County bake-off bakes cupcakes for a cause
LA PLUME, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An annual bake-off has made its way back to Lackawanna County, but the main purpose goes beyond bringing home gold.
The Cupcake Challenge raises money for cancer year after year.
Hundreds of Mardi Gras-themed, homemade cupcakes, all to cure more than a sweet tooth.
Keystone College’s 11th Annual Cupcake Challenge has returned.
Although the event is now organized by a new team, all of the money collected is still going to the same cause.
“In the past, the students have helped. This year was kind of the first year we bakers kind of took it on. So now we’re trying to keep it up for a good cause, for pancreatic cancer,” The Gypsy Baker Kayla Occhipinti said.
The money raised from cupcake sales and basket raffles will go toward the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Something that hits home for new event organizer, Kristin Meola.
“I lost my mother in 2020 to pancreatic cancer and after her funeral, I found out about it on Facebook and decided to become a baker. My mother was a huge baker so I thought what better way to honor my mother,” said Meola.
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Each year, the challenge brings in new and old participants, all ready to use their skills in the kitchen for a good cause.
“This year we did get quite a number of new bakers. We got some cute little junior bakers, some you know young bakers, that’s really neat to see,” Meola continued.
Taylor Mercereau was one of those new, junior bakers – she says she lost her grandmother to cancer and is happy to do something she loves while raising awareness.
“We do anything we can to like support cancer kind of and I love to bake at home so it was like kind of a win-win, and it was like a good cause so,” Mercereau said.
Organizers say they’ll continue the yearly challenge until pancreatic cancer is no more.
“I’m gonna continue doing this cupcake challenge every year until there is no need to do it anymore. I have to honor my mother and all those who have fought the hard fight have unfortunately lost their fight,” Meola explained.
The cupcakes were judged in four different categories: taste, look, table set up, and people’s choice.
Winners did take home trophies and gift cards.
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