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Cake Kit Project
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Cake Kit Project · Community blueprint

How to run a cake kit drive

Free to use and repeat in any community. Coordinate with your partner before buying anything.

The steps

  1. 1. Coordinate first — do this first

    Before buying or collecting anything, talk with a local food pantry, church, or community partner and get clear answers.

    • Confirm they are willing to accept the supplies.
    • Confirm they are willing to assemble kits — or agree who will.
    • Agree on how many kits they can use and distribute.
    • Confirm their delivery / drop-off days and hours.
    • Confirm they accept the shelf-stable kit contents listed here.
    • Get a named local contact person for questions and delivery.
    • Ask whether the families they serve have oven access.

  2. 2. Set up giving carefully

    Only open a giving option once it's real and transparent. Keep each community's gifts separate.

    • Supply wishlist: ships directly to the confirmed recipient, with their permission.
    • Money: only after a receiving account is configured and you've written down how funds will be used.
    • Never send one community's gifts to another, or imply one general fund serves every drive.

  3. 3. Gather supplies

    Use the kit calculator — one of each item per kit — and its estimated budget for planning.

    • Boxed cake mix, cans of Sprite or Coke, tubs of frosting.
    • Aluminum baking pans, ideally with fitting lids.
    • Printed English/Spanish direction cards.

  4. 4. Check every item

    Food safety and transparency come first.

    • Check that seals are intact and packaging is undamaged.
    • Check expiration / best-by dates.
    • Keep original ingredient and allergen labels on every item.

  5. 5. Assemble the kits

    Pack one of each item together, with the direction card on top — at the recipient site or wherever you agreed.

    • Place the mix, soda, and frosting inside or alongside the pan.
    • Close the lid or bundle items so nothing gets separated.

  6. 6. Deliver by arrangement

    Drop off only as agreed with your recipient organization.

    • Deliver during their confirmed delivery hours, to your local contact.
    • Follow their intake and storage guidance.

Supply list for 25 kits

One of each item per kit.

ItemQuantity
Boxed cake mix25 boxes
Can of soda25 cans
Tub of frosting25 tubs
Aluminum baking pan25 pans
Printed directions25 cards

Estimated materials budget: about $150.00 ($6.00 per kit estimate)

  • This is an estimate for planning, not a guaranteed cost or a promise of what any gift will buy.
  • An early online price comparison came to about $5.80 per kit, before printing, sales tax, and shipping.
  • Local store prices, sales, brands, and pan sizes vary — check prices where you'll actually shop.

Need a different amount? Use the kit calculator.

Packing checklist

  • Recipient confirmed: accepts supplies, quantity, distribution plan, and oven access
  • Recipient confirmed who assembles the kits
  • Delivery days/hours and local contact person confirmed
  • Cake mixes counted — one per kit
  • Cans of soda counted — one per kit
  • Frosting tubs counted — one per kit
  • Aluminum pans (with lids if possible) counted — one per kit
  • English/Spanish direction cards printed — one per kit
  • Seals intact and packaging undamaged
  • Expiration dates checked
  • Ingredient and allergen labels left on every item
  • Kits assembled and bundled
  • Delivery date, time, and drop-off location confirmed

Direction card · Tarjeta de instrucciones

Print one per kit. Cut along the border.

How to bake your cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
  2. Remove the lid from the pan before baking (unless the pan manufacturer explicitly says the lid is oven-safe).
  3. In a bowl, mix the cake mix with one can of soda. Do not add eggs or oil.
  4. Pour the batter into the provided pan.
  5. Bake approximately 25–30 minutes, until done (a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean).
  6. Let the cake cool completely, then frost and enjoy!

You will also need: an oven, a mixing bowl, and a spoon or whisk.

Good to know

  • Baking times vary by mix, can size, and pan. Use the tested mix/can/pan combination and adjust baking time as needed.
  • The allergens listed on the cake mix and frosting labels still apply. Please read the labels.
  • An oven, a mixing bowl, and a mixing utensil are required and are not included in the kit.

Cómo hornear tu pastel

  1. Precalienta el horno a 350 °F (175 °C).
  2. Retira la tapa del molde antes de hornear (a menos que el fabricante indique explícitamente que la tapa es apta para horno).
  3. En un tazón, mezcla la mezcla para pastel con una lata de refresco. No agregues huevos ni aceite.
  4. Vierte la masa en el molde incluido.
  5. Hornea aproximadamente 25–30 minutos, hasta que esté listo (un palillo insertado en el centro sale limpio).
  6. Deja enfriar el pastel por completo, luego cúbrelo con el glaseado y ¡disfruta!

También necesitarás: un horno, un tazón para mezclar y una cuchara o batidor.

Para tener en cuenta

  • Los tiempos de horneado varían según la mezcla, el tamaño de la lata y el molde. Usa la combinación probada de mezcla, lata y molde y ajusta el tiempo según sea necesario.
  • Los alérgenos indicados en las etiquetas de la mezcla y del glaseado siguen aplicando. Por favor, lee las etiquetas.
  • Se necesita un horno, un tazón y un utensilio para mezclar; no están incluidos en el kit.