The idea of holding a Library baking event was born over lunch in January 2024 and grew into a possible single campus-wide event for the Fall of 2024. Originally named Bake-O-Rama, a PowerPoint was presented at a Town Hall meeting in late winter with the subtitle, “Strengthening Community, Showcasing Culinary Programs, Supporting the Campus Cupboard and Other Student Services”. We hoped that the event would connect employees, students and their families and provide material for a cookbook, the donated proceeds of which would go to the Campus Community Cupboard. We also hoped to open the event to the larger Berkshire Community, by soliciting both BCC and community partners who might speak to the science of baking, showcase BCC majors, and provide information on food sustainability while highlighting the diversity of our community of baked goods. Food Unites All became our theme.
On April 10, 2024, the Bake-OFFS core team met with BCC President Ellen Kennedy who suggested that instead of a single event in October 2024, we test the project on five or six events during the 2024/2025 academic year. Ellen suggested that we meet with Celia Norcross, Dean of Students Student Affairs and Enrollment Management who we met up with on April 12. Out to a great start, a larger committee was created and a name change made to “Burke’s Bake-OFFS”, which was suggested independently by both a student and a staff member. The OFFS in the title stands for Our Faculty at BCC Family, Students.
During the academic year we held five differently themed and wildly successful baking events, four of which were contests. STEM provided beautifully crafted wooden spoons as prizes, and everyone received a certificate and token gift. Every event raised funds and awareness for Burke’s Campus Pantry, including contributing to the Thanksgiving basket drive with funds from a raffle and pies, Holiday cookies and other support. Some contests were “People’s Choice”, and one was with judges drawn from our BCC Community including President Kennedy. Our last event, the Un-Contest, featured baked goods from around the world, made by members of the BCC Community.
Now we are getting ready for our biggest event, a Burke’s Bake-OFFS event which will take place at BCC’s 65th Anniversary Celebration on August 16, 2025. Watch for announcement about this event in the coming weeks. We will be compiling a recipe book of all entries from the contests which will be made available for a donation in the Fall of 2025. Proceeds will go towards Burke’s Campus Cupboard, once more keeping our mission of community and belief that Food Unites All.
