Short Sweet and Nice #CupQuake

I did another round of #CupQuake to help raise money for the Red Cross Canterbury appeal. This time around we raised $1,100. I thought that this was pretty impressive given the fact that after the 22nd February a great deal more people organised amazing fundraisers to raise money for Christchurch. 

Last time we raised $900 and I wanted to crack the $1,000 mark. Admittedly I decided to top things up a little bit with a few extra dollars from Mark and I to get it to $1,100…but why not!

Like I have said in the past I cannot help physically as I live in Auckland but I can raise money or donate money.

I really want to thank Claire and the team at the international travel college of New Zealand who managed to sell almost 300 cupcakes.

To the other amazing people and businesses who took the time to sell these cupcakes and those that purchased them to eat. I cannot thank you enough.

So thank you to my team of ‘sellers/buyers’:

Best Blooms Florists (Jo and her team)

Shona, Raewyn, Yvonne, Kath, Rachel, Cath, Hilary and Sharleen

I also want to say a HUGE thank you to my friends Kathryn and Colleen who let me use their kitchen at Delish Cupcakes and offered “post-it” notes of encouragement. Baking over 500 cupcakes at home would have been a mission that I just cannot bear to think about.

Last not but certainly not least my thanks goes to Anne (Kathryn’s mum) who helped me to bake and kept me on track and “sane”. I can now honestly say that I know exactly how much filling to put in a cupcake case so that it does not turn into a muffin.

To the Cantabrians, I hope this money goes a little way to helping you get back on your feet.

#Cupcakes4Cantabs 2

Following the initial Christchurch earthquake in the early hours of the morning of Saturday 4th September 2010 I decided to help raise some funds for the Red Cross Canterbury Earth Quake Appeal.

From this #Cupcakes4Cantabs and #CupQuake was born. On Monday 13th September a little over a week after the Earthquake (with the amazing help of others) we helped raise $900 to give to the Red Cross.

I hoped and wished that I would never have to do this again because there would not be a need for it.

I was wrong.

At 12.51pm on Tuesday 22nd February, Christchurch was slammed with a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. Unlike the one on Saturday 4th September this happened on a weekday as people went or returned from their lunch breaks etc. What followed was (for me) the stuff of nightmares and even now I find it quite surreal. I happened to be on Twitter when it occurred and I will never forget seeing the first photo and update from Camille Strowger (@BezzeraEspresso) of her crushed car. I was stunned.

Over the last few days I have watched, read, listened to and absorbed many of the stories of hope and survival, as well as the stories of heroes/heroines and then the stories of heartbreak. I am blown away by the huge amount of support shown not only by New Zealanders, but by people and countries overseas for those in Christchurch. For me this is the meaning of humanity. It is being compassionate, kind to those around you; not only in times of great need, but every day. For once I have hardly cried and I have thought about ways to help again. On Tuesday I was even trying to figure out how much it would cost to pay for an additional water tanker.

Last night Mehpara (@MehparaK) and Claire (@ClaireLHuxley) asked me if I would be doing #Cupcakes4Cantabs again and I said that I had been thinking about it since Tuesday. In the meantime Mark and I donated money to both the Red Cross and the Canterbury SPCA.

So we are doing #Cupcakes4Cantabs Take 2. I have spoken with Claire today and we have finalised a date. I only planned the first #Cupcakes4Cantabs in about a week; but this time around I want to make sure that we have enough time to pool our resources and raise as much money as we possibly can to help the people of Canterbury recover.

If I lived close to Christchurch I would be there in a second helping people. However, I will do what I can from Auckland and bake a huge amount of cupcakes to try and help.

Christchurch I know you are strong so please hang in there, we are doing our best to try and help you in anyway (big or small) to help you recover from this.

So if you want to help out by selling, baking or buying cupcakes then please let me know by leaving a message below or sending me a message on Twitter etc.

So tell your friends and family and let's try and raise as much money as we can!!

Twitter Username: @nessliddell
Twitter Hashtag is: #Cupcakes4Cantabs or #CupQuake
Facebook Event is: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166233706761325

When: Monday 28th March 2011
Where: Newmarket, Te Atatu...other areas TBC

Day 09 and #CupQuakes

I decided to do something for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal for all the lovely people in Christchurch. So along with a couple of others we baked about 40 dozen cupcakes and we were given almost 5 dozen from Delish Cupcakes.

I baked my final batches of #CupQuakes last night and today sent a mix of 30 chocolate-chocolate, vanilla and strawberry to Dave. I am not sure if I ever want to see another cupcake....well at least for a few days.

I have been overwhelmed by the support from the Twitter community and friends and family. Thank you for your words of encouragement, your retweets and unwavering support. xxx

At last count (Thursday 16th September) we had raised $805.50 ($194.50 off my target of $1,000)!! I will update this total if it changes. Once I have all the money in then I will do one huge transfer directly to the Red Cross.

For me, one of the most amazing things was that we were able to donate 100% of the money raised to the Red Cross. I know that people have worn a lot of the cost of baking to make this possible.

Given the short space of time that this was organised; I thought of it on Wednesday 8th I have been amazed by the response and support from the Twitter community, friends and family.

So I would like to thank the following people who have helped make this huge feat possible by giving their time selflessly.

Designing the #Cupcakes4Cantabs flyer:
The beautiful @MorganHerself

The bakers and decorators:
Your generosity and the time spent helping were greatly appreciated! @Teena2003, @Wendywings and Miss8, @omakiwi and @stockhausens. Also, to @claireatitc and her team of bakers at the International travel Collage (@itcnz); your support and enthusiasm were fabulous.

Tweeps who brought cupcakes:
@AdrianKitto @ActivePhysioAlb @jillporternz @CateOwen @venzann @nzdeany @blimeychrissy @Rachel_JC @cameocreams @andreawong_nz @cathmarygeorge @getageloc @rgoodchild and Dan

Tweeps who didn’t buy cupcakes but donated:
@bestblooms and @adagebusiness

Amazing Businesses
To @delishcupcakes who kindly gave us their beautiful cupcakes in a HUGE range of Amazing flavours and dropped them off first thing on Monday. If you want cupcakes these are the girls to go to!! www.delishcupcakes.co.nz

To @UrgentCouriers who wanted to do something to help the people of Christchurch and offered 5 Auckland deliveries to help get dozens of cupcakes to their buyers. http://www.urgent.co.nz/ P.S. all the cupcakes arrived safe and sound.

Check out some other New Zealanders raising money to help Cantabrians here

I hope this has inspired others to do a little bit to help out where they can.

PS I hope to try and make up the difference to get to $1,000 by selling some things that we no longer use at home.

Cupcakes4Cantabs Update

So I have had a huge response from Twitter and Facebook and also some gorgeous strangers regarding Cupcakes4Cantabs. I will do a separate blog thanking all the people that have supported this worthwhile #CupQuake fundraiser. << Download the flyer and send it to your address book!!

I wanted to do a quick update about what is happening.

Monday 13th September is Cupcakes4Cantabs day where I will (along with others) be selling cupcakes and cakes to raise money for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. 100% of the donations made go to this appeal.

I just said to Mark this evening “you know if we lived in Christchurch I would be out there helping and cleaning up and probably offering our hospitality to people”. Living in Auckland has its limitations in terms of physical assistance, so money is definitely the way to go.

A number of people really want to be involved, but have felt that they cannot as they are not in Auckland. When I thought of this idea my “bigger picture” plan was that people from all over New Zealand could get involved if they had the time to make 12 or 24 cupcakes and sell them to friends, family and workmates. I baked 100 cupcakes for the SPCA Cupcake day and we made $200 and that was mainly selling to people that we knew. So I figure you do not even have to really leave the comfort of your office if you do not want to.

So my challenge to those people who want to help but do not live in Auckland is to bake a batch or 2 of cupcakes and get selling!! Even if you just bake 12 you could make $24 and to be honest, that could probably feed a couple of Christchurch families’ dinner, or replace their toiletries, or provide enough bottled water for 12 people.

If 100 people baked 12 cupcakes and sold them for $2 each that would be a whopping $2,400!! Imagine how many dinners, toiletries or bottled water that would buy! You get the picture. Besides, who doesn’t have $2 to buy a beautiful, homemade cupcake to help New Zealanders.

The details:
So if you want to help out selling, baking or buying cupcakes or cakes then please let me know Vanessa.liddell@gmail.com or 021 525 691.

Twitter Username: @nessliddell
Twitter Hashtag is: #Cupcakes4Cantabs or #CupQuake
Twitvite is: http://twtvite.com/Cupcakes4Cantabs
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112481525475887
When: Monday 13th September 2010
Where: Newmarket, Te Atatu...other areas TBC
Cost: $2 per cupcake or 3 for $5. Additional donations are welcomed. Note: Money will go straight to the Red Cross.

So tell your friends and family and let’s try and raise as much money as we can!!