Carson woman organizes bake sale for hungry children

Walking into Debbie Tull's home Wednesday, the smell of desserts baking in the small kitchen oven filled the living room as banana nut muffins sat cooling on the dining room table.

She knows firsthand what a gift it is to have food cooking and ready for her daughter or grandchildren when they visit. But being out of work for the past year hasn't dampened her bright smile and enthusiasm for giving.

In fact, it has only encouraged Tull even more to volunteer and help other people through tough times.

When Tull read about the Great American Bake Sale, a national event launched recently to help raise funds for hungry children, she jumped right in.

"These are our kids and to me that's what's important," she said. "This is important -- that we take care of our own."

Tull enlisted the help of friends and neighbors and plans to hold her segment of the Great American Bake Sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Albertsons, 4348 S. Carson St. Proceeds from the event will be contributed to the national organization to help end childhood hunger.

"It's rewarding to know even if you don't have a lot, there's something you can do," Tull said. Tull sent in a $5 registration fee to participate and sent letters and fliers to neighbors and friends.

The national event was launched April 27 and will run through July 22. Share Our Strength, a leading anti-hunger organization, is organizing the fund-raiser and will collect and distribute the funds to innovative, successful anti-hunger programs nationwide.

The fund-raiser encourages citizens to hold bake sales in communities throughout the country or buy items from a local Great American Bake Sale event.

Tull has been busy in the kitchen this week baking muffins and goodies for Saturday's sale. Expecting her fourth grandchild, Tull let her daughter munch on goodies Wednesday afternoon as Tull took breaks from checking the oven.

"It's amazing how little you have to do," Tull said.

Her neighbor, Jo Helzen, stopped by to drop off a few dollars for the sale and to pass along the message that her roommate will be making a lemon pie with graham cracker crust to help.

Tull was thrilled and said she hopes many people pitch in for the cause.

"I love our small community," she said. "It's important to know people in our small community and just help."

The number of children in poverty in Nevada was 62,000, according to statistics compiled by the Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University. It is estimated the number of people living in "food insecure" households, a term used by government for people who regularly must survive on a diet not nutritious enough to keep a child healthy, was 235,000 in 2000.

In Nevada, 63 percent of people who obtain emergency food services are children or seniors who cannot work, according to the Nevada Women's Lobby.

Seventy-five percent of the money collected in each state during the event will be granted in that state. Twenty percent will go to high-risk areas and 5 percent to the Food Research and Action Center, a leading national organization working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the U.S., according to Share Our Strength officials.

The program is sponsored by the ABC Television Network, Betty Crocker, and Tyson Foods Inc., with additional support from Reynolds Consumer Products.

Anyone interested in baking goods for the sale can call Tull at 885-2485 or arrive at the event with items. Cash donations will also be accepted at the sale. All proceeds will be sent to the national organization.

Tull was laid off of her job with Western Nevada Supply, and is having a tough time finding work, she said. Instead, she has a degree in Criminal Justice and is busy volunteering and will attend a volunteer Citizen Police Academy with the Carson City Sheriff's Department.

YOU CAN HELP

Call: 885-2485 to donate items

Visit: The Great American Bake Sale booth at Albertson's, 4348 S. Carson St.

When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

ON THE NET

www.greatamericanbakesale.org