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On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal.

In the mountainous Himalayan Kavre District 30 km southeast of Kathmandu,

nearly every village lost lives and a majority of homes and structures crumbled. 

One week later, they still had not received official aid of any kind.

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During May & June 2015, 100% of Festoon Baking's proceeds went to delivering life-saving food directly to villagers in the Kavre District of Nepal.

 

Many villagers in Kavre are farm laborers who lack financial reserves to sustain themselves after losing their houses, belongings, livestock, stored food supplies, and loved ones. In desperate need of food and basic resources, they also faced the threat of impending monsoons and disease. They are Kavre's most vulnerable people. 

 

Sinora, my dear friend, is Nepali. Her aunt Yogita comes from Kavre, where many of her relatives still live. Yogita is a trusted resource who knows the region intimately. She is deeply committed to personally delivering aid to residents of Kavre, and in a position to continually assess which villages and communities were in greatest need.

 

On May 1, 2015, our community of diplomatic and corporate expats in Israel and local Israelis collectively donated 125 kilograms of much-needed clothing, food, diapers, candles, matches, towels, blankets, and more for these villagers. It was prepared for cargo shipment from Tel Aviv on May 3, 2015 and transported to the villages of Anaikot and Hokshe upon its arrival in Kathmandu.

 

On that visit, it was clear that what they needed most were food and basic supplies, and money to purchase them locally. With our community's extremely generous support through eight Festoon Baking Co. orders, Yogita transported four large truckloads of food and supplies (rice, peas, biscuits, salt, and cooking oil) to the poorest villagers of Anaikot and Hokshe in the following weeks.  Each time, she was greeted with tears of relief and gratitude.

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Out of this effort, Festoon Baking Co. was born.