Why Bake Sales?

Why has there been a recent increase in bake sales from community service groups? Multiple community service groups have started organizing more bake sales during lunch in front of the amphitheater. Is there an explanation for this recurring trend? An example of this is Pulse, a student group which aims to raise school spirit and had an entire “Week of Goods” to sell food ranging from fish balls to snow cones. Meanwhile, Crossroads also recently held a bake sale on October 30, selling foods revolving around Korean snacks and drinks.

During an interview with one of the coordinators of Migrant Link, Jennifer G., she explained that bake sales are a “very convenient form of raising money in our school especially when it is for a charitable cause.” In addition to a noticeable pattern in the frequency of these bake sales, there also seems to be a pattern in the food these service groups sell. Bubble tea has been a popular and reoccurring item in the menus, and it seems to appeal greatly to the AISG community. Is it because we aren’t allowed to order it during school hours?

However, many service groups leaders believe the lack of variety and originality in these menu items isn’t the service groups’ fault. These groups are limited due to the contract between Sodexo and the school restricting the product options. Student groups are not allowed to sell anything that could potentially replace lunch during lunchtime, as it would act as a competitor for Sodexo business. According to another community service coordinator, Rachel M., “There would be a larger opportunity for service groups to raise money in which the proceeds would be sent to a good cause if we weren’t stopped by Sodexo.” These past few weeks have been full of bake sales with more to come, and now there is a brief insight as to why bake sales are so frequent.