N.J. Bakery Raises Over $4,000 For Animal Shelter With Annual 'Cupcakefest'
By Emily Tamburri
RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A New Jersey bakery raised over $4,000 for a local animal shelter – using nothing but cupcakes and charisma.
Sweet Avenue Bake Shop earned recognition earlier this year for their Charlie Sheen "Winning" cupcake and for aiding in the rescue of Patrick, a dog found dumped down a Newark trash chute.
Last weekend, the vegan cupcake store in Rutherford, N.J., held their fourth annual Cupcakefest, a large-scale celebration featuring live music,vendors and raffles. This year's festival benefited a Bloomfield animal shelter.
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And on Friday, Sweet Ave owner Jake Vance announced that the event raised $4,000 is monetary donations and $2,000 in supplies for the John A. Bukowski animal shelter.
"This is more than triple last year's cash total, we couldn't be more thrilled," said Sweet Avenue owner Jake Vance. "The shelter said it was by far one of their largest ever single-day fundraisers."
When the first Cupcakefest took place four years ago, the purpose of this party was simple: To celebrate Sweet Avenue's loyal customers and the hopes of giving any cupcake sales of the day to a shelter to help support animal rights equality.
This basic idea blossomed into an annual, well-attended and highly supported local New Jersey event, raising thousands for local animal shelter.
The highlight of the event, the cupcake-eating contest, took place while vendors displayed trinkets, dog and cat toys, accessories and food.
Monetary donations were being made directly to the shelter in return for a sheet of raffle tickets to win multiple prizes—some filled with goodies to take home to our pets, others stuffed of special treats more suitable for two legged mammals. Massages, spa treatments, herbal teas, kitchen supplies, gift cards and other luxuries lined gift baskets to be raffled off at the end of the night.
To learn how you can donate to the Bukowski shelter, click here.
