Starting this school year, a rule began being enforced at H-B that prohibits students from selling food items that don’t meet the nutrition standards for the school’s breakfast and lunch program, essentially banning bake sales. The rule originates from federal regulations set by the Obama administration and stems from a concern about childhood obesity. Schools can get around the ban if a state’s board of education allows certain food items to be sold, but Virginia has yet to do this.
This ban makes it incredibly difficult for clubs to fundraise, something most clubs rely on. Ask practically any club leader, and they’ll tell you that bake sales brought in the most money.
“It’s incredibly frustrating. It severely limits how teens can support causes they really care about,” says She’s the First Co-president, Amelia Shelton (‘27).
Some Virginia legislatures have said they want to work to end the ban, but until then clubs have to get creative. One club which found a way around the ban to raise money was H-B’s chapter of She’s the First. She’s the First is a non-profit organization who helps protect women’s rights worldwide, and the main goals of student chapters are to spread awareness and fundraise, something the ban on bake sales makes a lot more difficult.
She’s the First’s solution was to hold a crafts sale. Members and leaders worked together to create handmade HBW felt pennants that were then sold at their crafts sale during a long I-Block. The sale ended up being a big success, with profits rivaling that of a bake sale!
Along with the pennant sale, the H-B halls have seen bracelets, silly bands, and even singing candy grams sold. Clubs have also organized partner nights with local restaurants, and some have even braved beyond H-B’s walls to sell baked goods in front of CVS. Some other ways that clubs could potentially fundraise are trivia nights, movie nights, or other craft sales.
The moral of the story is that, while the bake sale ban is definitely frustrating, with a little creativity fundraising is still completely possible!
