BAKE OLYMPIA >>>

With the popularity of food blogs these days, local bloggers are using their reach to positively affect their community. Bake Olympia, a bake sale to fight hunger, will be doing just that at the Make Olympia Street Market this Friday, April 27 during Olympia's Spring Arts Walk. The proceeds from the sales of the baked goods and donated food items and produce will go to Thurston County Food Bank.

As a food blogger that focuses mainly on fresh produce, bake sale organizer Jenni Crain (of The Plum Palate) is well aware of the price of food and that not everyone can afford to eat what she's eating and blogging. "It makes sense to turn that around, even a little bit, by organizing people who are passionate about food to help alleviate hunger," Crain said. She hopes to raise $1,000 for the food bank, as well as collect food and raise awareness of the issue of hunger in the community.

Crain was inspired by Seattle bloggers' Will Bake for Food, an event that raised over $2,500 for the Emergency Feeding Program. "We don't have the star power Seattle does, but we do have a small group of committed food bloggers and the Thurston County Food Bank, which is working to eliminate hunger right here," she said.

Some of the anticipated treats include salted caramel brownies and s'mores bars (from Krista and Jess), chocolate cherry big cookies (from Fresh Scratch) and lavender meringues and macarons with mango (from OlyEats). Jenni Crain's blogging partner, Chie Okazaki, is working on a savory gluten-free scone.

You may purchase or exchange fresh produce and non-perishable food items for these baked goods and more on Friday, April 27 at the Make Olympia Street Market (100 block of Columbia Street, downtown Olympia) during the Arts Walk 5-10 p.m.