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.
