Miami baker is giving away Mother’s Day cakes to moms who lost children to gun violence

(MIAMI) For those who have experienced loss, Mother's Day can bring up profound feelings of sorrow and loneliness. That's precisely how Sherronda Daye, founder of the Miami-based dessert catering business Sweet Jalane's, describes the time when she lost her mother seven years ago.

Sweet Jalane's Instagram

But, in 2016, she decided to turn her grief into a memorable Mother's Day appreciation initiative. "I was like, look, I need to do something for people who feel like I feel. I cannot be the only person who feels this way," Daye explains. "I looked at the calendar, and I literally had ten days until Mother's Day to come up with something to do, and I said, you know what? I'm going to challenge myself to sell and bake one hundred cakes in the next ten days."

Sweet Jalane's & Company

That's how the 100 Cakes in 10 Days Initiative came about. For every cake ordered, Daye would donate one. Every year she chooses a different cause to support. This year, she partnered with the non-profit Miami Children's Initiative to provide cakes to mothers who have lost a child to gun violence.

"It is an all too common conversation. It's just too common for anybody's good that our children are being killed," says Daye, who grew up in Liberty City. For her, the initiative means more than giving out cakes. It's also about raising awareness about gun violence in Black communities. "I just want to speak as loudly as I can, you know, in the midst of this reality to hopefully help somebody out."

Sherronda Daye pictured with her mother.Sweet Jalane's Instagram

After all, Daye is no stranger to supporting social causes. Some of her previous partnerships have helped domestic abuse survivors, low-income families, and more. Now, Daye is committed to making Mother's Day a bit sweeter for grieving families. And, in addition to giving cakes to mothers who've lost their child, the Miami Children's Initiative has identified kids who may struggle to afford a gift for their mothers on their special day. These kids, too, will receive a Sweet Jalane's, cake for Mother's Day.

Traditional Bundt CakeGetty Images

If you want to donate, you can order a cake via The Sweet Exchange website (thesweetexchangemiami.com). For $40, you will get a fluffy vanilla brown butter Bundt cake, and Danye will donate another.

The initiative was meant to close on May 6th, but Daye has since extended the program through the weekend to support as many families as possible. "They can keep donating. We'll keep baking and we'll keep delivering."

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