***Disclaimer: Writer has connection within story***

The State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) campaign held their annual Bake Off at Park and Culkin Halls on Oct. 30. This is one of many fundraiser’s SEFA holds throughout the year, and the sixth event of fall 2023. At the Bake Off, bakers from throughout the SUNY Oswego faculty came together, making a wide variety of sweet treats. Not only that, but tasters were also called in to sample the offerings and vote on their favorite ones. 

The Bake Off was previously held on Oct. 23 in Tyler Hall and Marano Campus Center, but was opened again for new tastings on Oct. 30. The event just saw its eighteenth annual hosting, longer than Cathy Johnston has been managing the sale.

“The lady that I took over from retired almost ten years ago. I’ve been here for 13 years, so I don’t know honestly how many years before that. But I can tell you it’s been running for at least 15 years,” Johnston said. 

Johnston was one of the many bakers who made cookies for the event. Her choices included burnt sugar bourbon gingerbread cookies with bourbon butter cream, as well as “Grandpaw’s Spice Dog Cookies.” She had gotten the recipe from a cookbook by Three Dog Bakery, a bakery that uses people’s ingredients for dog treats, making them great for both humans and dogs alike. “We have a lot of dogs… so it’s Christmas for everyone, including the dog.”

Alea Morris, a first-year student who attended the sale as a taster, got a Pumpkin Patch Brownie, featuring candy corn pumpkins, oreo pieces and a pumpkin-flavored cookie. “It was Halloween-themed and was more visually Halloween-themed than the rest,” Morris said when regarding the bakery item; the brownie was one of her votes for the sale.

As another part of the sale, people were encouraged to buy the cookies for a dollar each to raise money for the United Way of Greater Oswego County. The United Way of Greater Oswego County also supported SEFA and others for Pink Day, recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

The events held by SEFA will continue until December when the fall semester ends, and will pick back up at the end of February. Other events that SEFA will be holding through December include No Shave November for University Police, the Oswego Laker Hockey Teddy Bear Toss, SUNY Oswego Toy Drive and Holiday Skate. They also hold an event called Baskets of Caring, running Nov. 6 through the 15, which is their most successful event of the year. Baskets are made (some with money) and raffled off. “We usually have 16 to 20 baskets, some worth $50 and some worth $800,” Johnston said.

The winners of the Bake Sale are yet to be announced, but nevertheless, all of the items were a success! More information on funraisers can be found at https://www.oswego.edu/sefa/whats-new.