Debora Horng is the vice president of the Centreville chapter of Bake4Sake, a national organization that provides fresh baked goods to homeless shelters. Next year, whttp://bake4sake.org/hen she’s a senior, she will be the president. Debora has been active in Bake4Sake since her freshman year. During that time, she has baked and shared many different kinds of recipes, from chocolate chip to blueberry bread to sugar cookies and shortbread.

“I find joy in baking, and especially in encouraging other Centreville High School students to donate their home-baked cookies, breads and sweets to homeless shelters in Fairfax County,” said Debora. “I want to be able to help homeless people enjoy good food, savor different combinations of tastes and textures, and know that people are putting their hearts and souls into baking special food for them.” Debora knows that people without a home can feel a kind of peace when they are enjoying baked goods that are made with care and love.

Debora coordinates with local shelters, sometimes obtaining information about the most popular food items at the shelter. She also recruits volunteer bakers from Centreville High School and the surrounding area so that local shelters can have a steady supply of unique and delicious brownies, pies, cookies and other baked goods. She uses social media to generate interest, sign up volunteers and share recipes. Once a month, she gathers up the food from volunteers and distributes it to shelters. Debora’s chapter of Bake4Sake donates food about three times a month, and at least three volunteer bakers contribute food each time. “That’s a lot of delicious food being prepared for people who appreciate the special care that is put into homemade food,” she said.Debora is looking for new ways to appeal to volunteers and is trying to expand the pool of bakers so that entire families and people of all ages can pitch in. She feels a real sense of happiness when she bakes, and she hopes that the joy and peacefulness that she feels while baking can be shared by others, especially when they know that they are baking for people who benefit from reassurance and support. “I hope the happiness I feel when I bake combines with the recipe ingredients, and the homeless people who enjoy the food prepared by Bake4Sake volunteers can taste that happiness,” she said.