Some of our best cookie ideas come from our customers. Last summer, I received a call from a woman who was planning her wedding and wanted to include something that would honor the couple’s heritage. She explained that they were both from Ghana and asked if we could make cookies shaped like Africa. We designed these beautiful, elegant cookies, which they used as part of a dessert table. They chose to support the Mmofra Trom Bead Project, which raises funds to cover education costs for vulnerable Ghanaian children.

Regardless of which cookies you order from Baking for Good, you can choose to support one of several organizations that are doing important work in Africa. Here are just a few:

Aid for Africa - Aid for Africa works with its partners on the ground in Africa to find solutions to the education, health, development, and wildlife challenges facing the region. Whether distributing books to school children, introducing medical strategies to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, supporting small businesses for women, or finding new approaches to protect endangered elephants and lions, Aid for Africa is working to build a better future for Africa’s children, families, and communities.

Children of Uganda - The mission of Children of Uganda is to support and empower hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda to lead successful and productive lives. The vision of Children of Uganda is that all children in Uganda receive an education to become healthy, productive members of their community who assume leadership roles and positively impact Ugandan society.

Action Against Hunger - Intervening in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, Action Against Hunger saves the lives of malnourished children while providing families with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. Action Against Hunger has pursued its vision of a world without hunger for 30 years, assisting nearly 5 million people a year. Action Against Hunger is currently at the forefront of efforts in the Horn of Africa, where drought and famine are threatening millions of people.

She’s the First - She’s the First promotes the importance of educating girls, especially in the developing world. Many of the schools to which they send girls are located in Africa, including Village Schools International in Tanzania, where Baking for Good donations have now sent two girls. She’s the First encourages women to unlock the power of their social networks and creatively fundraise for sponsorships (they’ve recently proven that “a little sugar goes a long way” with their tie-dye cupcake campaign), giving underprivileged girls the means to break barriers. Most will be the first in their family to graduate.

Next time you’re shopping for a gift at Baking for Good, I hope you’ll consider supporting one of these great organizations!