Young baker raises money for flood victims with seasonal delight

Photo: Abby Frank bakes her great-great-grandmother’s pumpkin Bundt cake recipe while wearing her great-grandmother’s apron to raise money for area flood victims. Photo courtesy of Ann Brown.

Penny LeLeux

For The Record

Abby Frank, 8, dons her great-grandmother’s apron in her grandmother’s kitchen. She love’s baking with her Maw-maw Ann Brown of Bridge City. Brown said Abby has always loved to bake with her since she was big enough to stand on a stool to reach the counter. Now Abby is baking with a purpose.

“It started with a Sunday School Class,” said Brown. “Teaching and training children to be responsible stewards begins in childhood and continues throughout our lives.”

The lesson was to teach youngsters to share their God-given gifts and abilities by helping others, teach them the importance of "growing" their talents, and to be a generous steward through tithes, offerings, and service.

Abby decided to raise money for recent flood victims. “People that flooded need to buy houses and they need to get stuff they need,” she said.

Her grandmother asked her what she would like to do. Brown suggested making bracelets or some other craft project.

“No Maw-maw, I want to do pumpkin Bundt cakes,” Abby told her grandmother.

When asked why she decided on Bundt cakes, she said, “It was going to be Halloween and Bundt cakes are delicious! I love making them with my grandma.”

So far, the duo have baked and sold 55 cakes at $25 each. “This is for such a worthy cause,” said Brown.

“Abby and I love our time in the kitchen together.

It's all about making memories.

The pumpkin Bundt cake is a sweet reminder of my precious mother that passed away eight months ago.

She always baked the cakes for family and friends kicking off the fall season.

It's a family favorite that she was sure to bring to all of our family holiday gatherings-the smell, the taste, sweet memories that live on,” said Brown.

The recipe for the pumpkin Bundt cakes came from Brown’s grandmother, Abby’s great-great-grandmother, which makes it a five generation tradition.

“Abby and I are making them now...

Carrying on where my mother left off...

Keeping her sweet memory alive while making new memories of our own.

That's what it's all about!”

They have raised almost $1,400 so far. When they finish, current plans are to purchase Walmart gift cards or something similar, then distribute them door to door in some of the affected neighborhoods. Brown said Walmart cards can be used for sheets, towels, cleaning supplies, groceries, furniture, basically for anything that is needed.

Helping her fellow man is not new to Abby. “Abby loves to volunteer with me at an area nursing home when she's not in school, too. She loves to help the residents play bingo and just this summer she started painting their nails after bingo. She loves our ‘Super Senior friends’ and they love her,” said Brown. “She's been going to nursing homes with me since she was just a toddler. She has such a servant’s heart.” Abby is a 3rd grader at Bridge City Intermediate School that takes dance, loves games, Barbie dolls, sleepovers at Maw-maws and camping.

“Uno and Sorry are her favorite games,” said Brown.

Abby said she didn’t know what her next project would be when she completes this one.