More than a dozen Salt Lake City bakeries, candy companies and food businesses will hold a bake sale Sunday to raise money for migrant families waiting at the U.S. border.
The “Families Belong Together Bake Sale II” will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fillings & Emulsions, 1475 S. Main in Salt Lake City.
It’s the second year that sweet treats have been used to help migrant families in need.
Last year, like many people in Utah and across the country, Adalberto Diaz Labrada, the chef and owner of Fillings & Emulsions bakery, was watching news coverage of crying children separated from their parents and wanted to help.
He took a cue from schools and churches, which regularly hold bake sales to raise money for programs and supplies.
During the two-day event, Labrada and his fellow bakers sold out of every cookie, cake and muffin and raised $30,000 for RAICES: The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. The nonprofit organization in San Antonio provides legal services to immigrants and refugees hoping to be reunited with their children.
(Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo) Adalberto Diaz Labrada, chef and owner of FIllings & Emulsions bakery in Salt Lake City, shows the cash collected during the 2018 Families Belong Together bake sale.
Proceeds from Sunday’s sale will be split between RAICES and the Texas Civil Rights Project, Labrada said. For those who don’t want to buy sweets, donations to the two charity organizations will be accepted.
In early August, the number of migrants waiting at the border had risen to 50,000, according to The Associated Press, which used figures from the Mexican government in its report.
“The crisis is not over,” Labrada said. “The situation at the border has not improved and thousands are still incarcerated with no court date.”
The migrant issue hits home for Labrada, who left Cuba more than two decades ago. He, too, arrived at a detention center at the U.S border. He was tired and scared, saying it was so stressful he started losing his dark hair.
The list of participating businesses in this year’s event is a who’s who of Utah bakeries and includes Fillings & Emulsions, Les Madeleines, Streusel SLC, Millcreek Cacao Roasters, Raclette Machine, Bon Bon, Honey Teahive and Harmons Grocery.
Nicholas and Co., a Utah food supplier, has donated $1,000 worth of ingredients for the bakers to use, added Labrada.
In addition to the cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, brownies, scones and breads, there also will be pecan rolls from Condie’s Candies — a popular Utah item that is typically available only during the holidays — as well hand-dipped chocolates, ice cream, gelato and coffee.
Items for sale will range from $3 to $15.
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