Baby cake program makes a sweet statement

Mmmm cake. That's precisely what Campbell County Health Nutrition Services thought when they created a baby cakes program at Campbell County Health.

So, what is this program, and who can get a slice of that delicious cake? Essentially, every baby born at CCMH receives a birthday cake, courtesy of the department—it is Nutrition's sweet way of saying thanks to the mothers who give birth at CCMH.

"We had heard of other programs that gave new mothers items such as blankets and hats, but we ultimately decided baking baby cakes was a fun option that fit the department," says Erika Glasco, Nutrition Services Cook/Baker, and the baby cake program coordinator. "We have heard that some of the mothers plan to freeze the cake for the child's first birthday. Many also share the cake with their friends and family who visit them in the hospital during their stay."

The baby cakes program started on October 1. Each cake is handmade, baked and decorated by hand in Nutrition Services every day—and, sometimes, CEO Andy Fitzgerald will don a hairnet and some gloves to give it a whirl, too. The cakes are then hand delivered to the mothers in Maternal Child by a Nutrition staff member—usually the baker that day—with the department's congratulations on their new bundle of joy. As to be expected, with deliveries, some days are busier than others—and if 2016 is anything like 2015, Nutrition Services may be baking more than 800 cakes this year!

Thank you, Nutrition Services staff, for helping us take such great care of our patients. We appreciate you!

PS: If you're looking for tips on freezing a cake, check out this Pillsbury All About Cakes post.