The Gratitude Cake Project

“Because of you all, the collective is safe.”

The uniqueness of Auroville reflects also in small, touching initiatives like this one. In these days of lockdown, while many have been forced to stay home, others have offered their help in essential services like health, security, food supply etc.

Somebody noticed that these people who were working under stress didn't even have the comfort of hot drinks, snacks and cakes. This is where this story starts:

Helena, while working in Santé, dreamed: “I wish we could have cake for all the staff and government people working here”. While contemplating how to make this a reality, she talked with Uma, who said: “I will take care of that”.

Uma is not an experienced baker, so she asked Tamar to make and send a cake to Santé on Monday. Everyone there was super happy, so the idea of giving cake to all those working to keep Auroville functioning during the lockdown was born.

Uma called Jaya: “Will you bake some cake for volunteers to say: ‘thank you?’ ” Jaya immediately said yes.

Torkil agreed to pay for the ingredients. Naren agreed to do the shopping - starting with 2.5 kg of butter and 48 eggs! It sounded difficult in these lockdown times, but Naren managed and delivered to Sunship community kitchen, where master chef Jaya is baking.

The first batch of 60 cakes appeared on Earth Day 22nd April. The logistics - cards, packing, distribution - all got worked out as we went along. When we ran out of handwritten ‘thank you’ cards, friends and schools willingly agreed to help. 

The second batch of 90 cakes arrived on the morning of 23rd of April and these were also packed and sent out.

Then new sets of ‘thank you’ cards to volunteers and the next set of ingredients were planned.

We have already sent out 400 cakes. All have gone with ‘thank you’ notes on behalf of the community.

It has opened a flood of generosity and gratitude. We hope this ripple continues to inspire others to carry on saying ‘thank you’ in their own way. 

The cards read:

“Thank you for being in front and serving the community. Because of you all, collective is Safe. This cake is specially baked for you all, to say Thank you !”