'The Cake Detective' on the case for kids in hardship

A small charity in the heart of Hamilton is making a sweet difference in the lives of children facing hardship.

VIDEO

The Cake Detective, founded by Laura Casey in 2019, has been brightening birthdays with beautifully decorated cakes, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the support of the community.

The name 'The Cake Detective’ refers to Laura and her teams’ work ‘tracking down’ a cake for a child who may not otherwise get one.

Operating out of Sweet Pea Parties, the charity collaborates with more than 60 different agencies, including New Zealand Police, hospitals, hospices, women’s refuges, schools, and social workers.

“We provide free cakes for anyone going through hardship up to the age of 18,” Laura explains.

“We have children who are celebrating their last birthday through hospice, children in the hospital, and those in financial hardship - many are living with their grandparents or in foster care, and we also support kids in safe houses for Women’s Refuge.”

The process begins with a referral from one of these agencies, received two weeks before the cake is needed. Laura then provides the cake, which is decorated by volunteers.

“We have an amazing group of volunteers who then have a schedule set out for them that week,” Laura says.

“The cakes are decorated, and then either the guardian, parent, social worker, or whoever referred the cakes comes along to pick it up and take it out to the child to pick it up and take it out to the child to celebrate.”

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Above: Laura Casey, founder of The Cake Detective.

Laura’s journey with The Cake Detective began with a simple act of kindness.

“I was at home with two little boys and saw a post on Facebook asking for a birthday cake for a foster child who was turning one.

“I thought it would be fun to make a cake for this child who wouldn’t otherwise get one – and that first cake spiralled into what it is today,” Laura says.

“I grew up in a privileged household, and it wasn’t until I made that first cake that I became aware of children living without their parents.”

The demand for cakes has grown significantly since those early days.

“My goal was to donate 50 cakes a year, but we did 50 in the first three months,” Laura says.

“This month, we’ve made 130 cakes, and in general, it’s been over 100 cakes a month.”

Despite the challenges, Laura finds immense joy in her work.

“I think about when I was a child, and my mother would spend time making birthday cakes - I remember those cakes, and feeling celebrated and loved,” Laura says.

“It’s much more than just a dessert on the table - it’s a moment for that child to feel special and unique and loved by their family and the community, and we get to give that to children who don’t often feel that way.”

The impact of these cakes is profound.

“We have teenagers who have never received a cake, and no one’s ever acknowledged their birthday - they’re gobsmacked that someone would do this for them,” Laura says.

“Others have been receiving cakes over a period of time, and they look forward to their birthday and cherish those moments with their families.”

The Cake Detective has now decorated more than 2700 cakes since it was created.

Laura learned to bake and decorate cakes with lots of practice – and a little help from YouTube.

“We try really hard to have high-quality cakes go out, so the kids are amazed when they see the cakes, especially because they’re personalised for them,” she says.

Popular themes include Paw Patrol, Fortnite, unicorns, and Minecraft.

Laura said The Cake Detective is always in need of more funding and volunteers, and that donations go a long way, giving the recent example of a $3200 donation received from the ANZ New Zealand Staff Foundation.

“The support we got from the ANZ Staff Foundation allowed us to buy an extra-large mixer, which saves us and our volunteers a whole lot of time,” Laura says.

Despite the growing challenges, with the number of cake bookings rising all the time, Laura remains committed to her mission.

“The most rewarding thing is seeing the kids or hearing the stories about how much they loved their cakes - it makes all the sacrifice and time and love and passion worth it,” Laura says.

“It’s important to live a meaningful life and give back to others - when you can give, you should.”