How 11-year-old Ruby Henhoeffer baked a difference for our neighbours in need

Ruby Henhoeffer, an 11-year-old Cub Scout, wanted to make a difference in her community. As part of the community service project required for her final Cub Scout award, she organized a food and fund drive to support The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

“I wanted to help kids and families get food,” Ruby explains.

Wanting to do something creative, Ruby baked a difference by hosting a bake sale in support of The Food Bank. With her mom’s help, she made chocolate crinkle cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. She also made a poster to promote her bake sale.

Ruby baking.

Ruby set up her bake sale on a table at her aunt’s house in Kitchener during a community garage sale in July. She set a goal of raising $150 to $200.

Family, neighbours, and other community members supported Ruby’s bake sale by donating money to The Food Bank in exchange for her homemade treats.

“Even some kids from across the street came to buy treats from me,” Ruby recalls. “Brownies and chocolate crinkle cookies were a fan favourite.”

Ruby at her bake sale.

By the end of the day, Ruby had raised an incredible $179—enough to provide 358 meals for people in need in our community.

Ruby’s mom, Tina, reflects on the experience:

“Watching Ruby take a leadership role in the baking was a proud moment for me. As the youngest in the family, Ruby has limited opportunity to become the leader and she really showed that, when given the opportunity, she can excel at this. I think it helped her confidence, from organizing what she needed, directing others helping her bake, and then getting people’s attention to what she was doing the day of the bake sale.”

We’re so grateful to Ruby and everyone who supported her bake sale. Her creativity and community spirit remind us that anyone—no matter their age—can make a difference for The Food Bank and our neighbors in need.

Inspired by Ruby? Register your food and fund drive today! We’ll provide boxes, bags, and posters paid for by our sponsors, and guide you through setting up your own custom online donation page.