A recipe filled with love, memories and charity

Melissa Passman was only five years old when her grandmother died. But every time the 12-year-old seventh grader fires up the oven to bake, the aromas that fill the kitchen form an indelible bond between the two.

Even though most of Melissa’s memories about her grandmother, Elaine Passman, may be centered around visiting her in a nursing home, it’s Elaine’s legacy as a gourmet cook that has left an impact on Melissa. So much so that Melissa has become an ardent cook who loves to bake. She also loves charity.

So, when she had to select a mitzvah project as part of her bar mitzvah training at  Temple Chi, Melissa decided to combine her love of baking with her grandmother’s legacy by arranging “Melissa’s Charity Bake off.”

The event, set from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, 530 Bernard Drive, will raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, the very illness that took her grandmother’s life at age 67.

Beyond her grandmother’s legacy, Melissa thought a bake-off  would be a “cool idea” because she likes cooking.   It’s a simple contest; participants, who must be under 18, pay $10 to enter. All the money raised at the event will be donated to Multiple Sclerosis.  The top winners will receive trophies. Entries will be judged by four judges, who happen to be family members and friends.  That, however, is typical of the support she has been getting. 

Melissa says more than 15 people have entered, which she says is “rewarding”  because “people are going to do it.” To no surprise, Melissa has had support from her parents, Jon and Tracy Passman, who have helped promote the event. Jon has posted information on Facebook and also arranged for Image Specialties of Glenview to donate the trophies for the winners.

Melissa has also had support at  Aptakisic Junior High school, which has allowed her post flyers about the event. And apparently it has helped because she says her friends think “it’s a cool idea.”

Besides meeting a mitzvah requirement Melissa says she has found that “planning an event is a lot of work,” with the hardest thing to do is finding people to cook. As of earlier this week, Melissa said  15 people have already entered, which she says is “rewarding”  because “people are going to do it.”

Melissa did not have a goal for entries, saying “I just wanted to see how many people would enter.”

So, it looks like she has quite a recipe – memories, charity and a sense of community.

Melissa’s Charity Bake-off is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive.  Registration is limited to children under 18. Entry fee is $10.  For details, email melissasbakeoff@gmail.com.