Frequently Asked Questions

We are currently most active within the City of Philadelphia, with occasional requests in the surrounding counties (including New Jersey). That said, we are always open to new partnerships and expanded geographies, provided we have bakers in that area. If you would like to see more events in your town, feel free to be our ambassador! If you’d like to help us expand our efforts, drop us an email at InKindBakingPHL@gmail.com

We can always use more bakers! Whether you are a professional or an enthusiast, we would love to have you. Sign up by filling out our interest form. A member of our steering committee will then add you to our scheduling site PlanHero, where you can sign up for volunteer slots for upcoming events and community fridges. You can sign up as often or as sparingly as your schedule allows.

Yes, if you sign up, please make sure you can drop off within the specified drop-off window(s) and to the location named in the request. Unfortunately, due to the volume of requests we fulfill and the number of bakers that we coordinate, we cannot coordinate drop-off arrangements on your behalf.

No, you only need to drop off the baked goods to the point person within the specified drop-off window.

No. You can drop off in tupperware, shirt boxes with wax paper, etc. We just ask that you label the baked goods with their ingredients and any allergens, and make sure to note that “These baked goods were prepared in a home kitchen.”

Unless that is specified in the request, you do not need to do it. If you are baking for a Community Fridge, please consider packaging individually or per "household".

It varies based on the event’s anticipated head count. For events with fewer than 30-40 people in attendance, we recruit one baker to cover the entire event. (These smaller events are our most common requests.) For events that expect more than 30-40 people, we recruit multiple bakers so that each baker is responsible for about 30 servings maximum.

Community Fridges (and pantries) are volunteer-run resources with the goal of helping to aliveate food insecurity and food waste. These resources are available 24/7 and you can drop off whenever it is convenient for you. When baking for a Community Fridge or pantry, please ensure you read the specific directions and can satisfy the requests/needs that are noted. Packaging should be individual or to suit a "household", rather than large containers, and you must ensure you add the date your items were baked on your detailed label.

If the event is more than 2 weeks away, simply cancel your signup on the PlanHero site and email us at InKindBakingPHL@gmail.com to let us know. If the event is less than 2 weeks away, we ask that you try to find a replacement before contacting us (try posting in the project’s Facebook group!). We ask that you give us at least 72 hr notice that you will not be able to fulfill your obligation; if you need to cancel within that period, we ask that you contact us (InKindBakingPHL@gmail.com) and the event's contact person directly to let them know.

Through our fiscal sponsor (Culture Trust Philadelphia), the InKind Baking Project carries liability insurance that covers our bakers. As part of those insurance arrangements, we ask all of our volunteer bakers and requesting organizations/individuals to sign a waiver that outlines their responsibilities. This waiver is available through our PlanHero group. Please contact us if you wish to review the policy coverages.

No, we are an all-volunteer network.

Generally speaking, our volunteers take care of their own ingredients and supplies as part of their donation. However, we consider it a core part of our mission and values that everyone be able to participate, regardless of cost. We do maintain a small reimbursement fund to offset the occassional cost of supplies and/or drop-off transportation (e.g. public transportation or Lyft).

Please note that the reimursement process can take 3-4 weeks and requires some paperwork (receipts, reimbursement form, W9). When reviewing a request, we will confirm the details of your volunteer slot and drop off. We don’t ask any questions to make bakers justify their reimbursement request. (Reimbursement is available as our funds allow and at the discretion of the Steering Committee)

Yes, through our fiscal sponsor, Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia, all donations are tax-deductible, whether they are cash/check or in-kind goods/services. Cash donations will automatically receive a receipt. Please contact us for a form for in-kind donations.

That’s great to hear! Check out the toolkit on our website for some tips on how to start your own baking network.