On July 27, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina hosted a delectable competition as a fundraiser for Harvest Hope Food Bank. The company’s Columbia-area employees showed off their baking skills in the first ever Bake-Off Hunger for Harvest Hope.
Judges sampled an array of scrumptious baked goods, from brownies to cookies to high-heeled cupcakes. They scored each entry based on taste, creativity and presentation. The panel of judges included Barry Walker, renowned chef of Mac’s On Main, Otis Taylor, arts and entertainment reporter with The State, and Columbia Metropolitan Magazine’s own Emily Clay. Meaghan Norman, reporter with WIS News 10, captured the reactions of the judges and the contestants on film.
Denise Holland, executive director of Harvest Hope, says that the food bank experiences a downturn in food donations in the summer and is grateful that community partners like BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina help raise awareness of their hunger relief mission.
The bake sale proceeds, coupled with employee cash donations, netted almost $5,500 for Harvest Hope. Along with 15,000 pounds of food collected during the food drive, the event was like Christmas in July. Chip Lupo, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina employee and gold medal winner in the cookie category, says, “People realize that the money spent today is going to this worthwhile organization that needs our support now more than ever.”
