Ally Smilow has had a passion for baking for as long as she can remember. From a young age, Smilow has been baking, decorating and customizing cakes; drawing inspiration from every YouTube baking video and Kids Baking Championship that she can find. Last year, when her brother turned six, she decided to make him a customized cake. The cake was adorable, people’s reactions were amazing, and from there her passion for making customized cakes continued to grow.
When it came time for her to select a bat mitzvah project, it was obvious that it had to involve baking personalized cakes. When the question arose as to where she should donate her profits, it seemed that Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County was the right fit. To learn more about this organization, last week, Smilow and her mom volunteered at Tomchei Shabbos. When they got there they were welcomed with open arms and everyone was so grateful for their participation. They were given a tour of the facility and they were packing instantly. Everything is set up so that the volunteers have an easy time packing. The list for every box is in the order of the room and together Smilow and her mom walked around the room packing box after box for families across Bergen County. Within 30 minutes, and about 20 volunteers, all of the boxes were packed and sealed! Nothing was left out, from the wine, to the chicken and meat, fruits and veggies, challah and of course the shabbos dessert! Once she fully understood that there are people in her community that can’t afford to buy their own shabbos food, she was floored. She then knew that her profits should go to an organization that gives families something to look forward to every week.
This past year, Smilow has baked and customized over 25 cakes for many people in the community. She charges $35 for all of her cakes regardless of their complexity. Smilow would love to reach her goal of $1,000 raised for Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County by her bat mitzvah next month. She is only a couple hundred dollars away. All of her cakes are $35 and can be personalized any way you desire!
Message her on Instagram @customcakesbyally�
For information about Tomchei Shabbos visit them on the web at www.tomcheishabbosofbergencounty.org
