Toni Poulos

One year ago, Toni Poulos began baking free birthday cakes in her home on Sand Mountain for children who might not otherwise have that small joy on their special day.

There was no cost, no hidden catch; all it took was a parent’s request for Mrs. Poulos’ help. Since January, Mrs. Poulos estimates she has baked, decorated and delivered upward of 160 free birthday cakes.

Now Free Cakes for Kids has “franchised” into four states and Canada. People who read her story online, and were willing to donate their time and money to make a birthday cake, have started similar programs in their communities.

And for Mrs. Poulos, that’s the real icing on the cake.

To date, Free Cakes for Kids has expanded into Buffalo, N.Y., New York City, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Alberta, Canada. On Monday, Mrs. Poulos got an inquiry from a Kentucky woman who formerly worked in a bakery, is now a stay-at-home mom and wants to start Free Cakes for Kids in her county.

Word of mouth initially spread news of Mrs. Poulos’ generosity. In February, the Times Free Press featured her project in print and online. She also began creating her own Web site about that time.

Ms. Poulos said she began receiving e-mails from bakers across this country who saw her story on the Internet and felt moved to thank her. Some even sent donations to help fund her efforts.

“A lady in Las Vegas just randomly called,” said Mrs. Poulos. “I don’t know how she got my phone number. She said she read it on the Internet and had to tell me what a wonderful, heart-warming thing it was. She said she had given up on good people in the world and this helped reinstate her faith in people. I thought that was neat to get a random call from so far away.”

Gwendalyn Iversen, a New York City music teacher, said she is starting a program because “as a teacher, I know how much the little things in life matter to kids.”

Ms. Iversen said via e-mail that she has recruited people to help her, ranging in age from teenagers to retired teachers. She said she has taken cake decorating classes to improve her skills.

“Although I have not made any cakes for kids yet, I have given some to elderly neighbors of mine who have no family to make them cakes for their birthdays. It means just as much to them as it does to little kids,” Ms. Iversen said.

“I live in Buffalo, N.Y., and the poverty is overwhelming,” wrote Jennifer Jaquith. “As a single mom, I know how it is to to pinch a penny. Everyone always compliments the cakes I make for birthdays. I love this idea.”

Viola Powell of Alberta, Canada, said she was searching the Web for cake baking supplies when she came across Free Cakes for Kids’ Web site. She is now trying to find volunteers to support Free Cakes for Kids in her city.

“Toni’s gift of giving — not just a cake to these children, but such joy on their birthday! Letting them know that they re special, what greater gift is there? To me, Toni is an inspiration to all of us,” Ms. Powell said.

Mrs. Poulos said her hobby has become a full-time job.

“A slow week is four or five cakes; a busy week we send out 15. I spend a good 40 to 50 hours a week doing this. I take a break to throw some laundry in or empty the dishwasher,” she joked.

Mrs. Poulos said her mother’s example inspired this program.

“When we were kids, she always worked two jobs to keep us fed. I am the seventh of eight children. She never turned anyone away from her table. Regardless of how tough life was, mom would share anything she had,” Mrs. Poulos said.

The North Georgia resident said she already has orders for 25 cakes this month and bookings the rest of the year. Although a cake can range in price from $8 to $30, she never charges.

“With the economy the way it is, we are busier than ever. My sweet husband, George, (a truck driver for Koch Foods) often comes home from a 12-hour day at work and pitches in with baking. He works overtime to provide the money for mixes. But I am happy to say no child has ever been turned away.”

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