Pudding Party

Just thought I'd let you know about why I did a Pudding Party, and how it all came about...

After the birth of my first child, I became a stay-at-home mum with some involvement in school activities and always an interest in cooking. Over the years I was drawn into PTA activities and by the time my youngest child started school, I became PTA Chair. As well as organising social events, I did a lot of fund-raising and noticed that many people (myself included) could get a bit fed up with sponsored activities. At Christmas bazaars and Summer Fetes, the cake stall was always a firm favourite with everybody and I must admit that when things were a bit quiet, you could easily do a Cake Sale and it would be well-supported. Having received a few compliments on the cakes I prepared for these events, I thought the logical step for me when considering fund-raising for charity was to invite family and friends to a Pudding Party at my house. The desserts were all prepared beforehand, and served cold (no actual puddings such as jam roly-poly, crumble, apple pie; it was easier to do cheesecakes, flans, mousses, ice-creams, cakes, meringues, fruit fools, banoffee pie, etc.) Everybody was welcome to sample as many desserts as they liked, and asked to make a donation.

I tried this a few years ago, in aid of Acorns (I have a couple of friends who are associated with the hospice). I held it as a Ladies Only event and was a bit nervous beforehand, until my husband helpfully pointed out that a room full of women, wine and cakes was a winning combination! This proved to be the case and it was a big success.

Sadly, earlier this year one of the mums at school lost her battle with leukaemia and I wanted to do something in her memory. I thought of doing another Pudding Party along the same lines as the first. In retrospect, I think I should have invited blokes as well because they often have a sweet tooth and it would have raised more money.

Also, if anybody wanted to adapt the idea, it would make a lot more sense to have individuals donating home-made desserts (I made them all myself, which is obviously not cheap and takes up a fair amount of time!)

Along similar lines, I invited friends to a Soup Kitchen at my house a couple of years ago. I cooked 5 or 6 different soups and served them with bread and cheese.People could stay from 12 till 2, or they could just drop in for ten minutes.

Maybe I just have very generous friends, but I have found that people are more likely to support these events when they think they are getting something back apart from a sense of "doing the right thing". Whether that is an evening's entertainment in the form of a quiz (several of which I have organised in the last three years), or home-cooked food, it seems to work!
Best wishes and good luck with all your fund-raising,
Helen Roskams