13-year-old opens bakery to give away pastries for the homeless

Michael Platt has always loved baking cakes and pastries and baking was his passion. But what is wonderful is that he leverages his passion to help the less fortunate. When he was barely 11 years old, he launched a baking business called Michaels Desserts.

This 13-year-old not only bakes amazing cakes and sells them but also gives them to those starving and homeless in Washington DC. This bakery runs on a one-for-one basis to serve the needful: for every pastry bought at Michaels’, he gives away one to an underprivileged person.

About Michael

Michael’s hometown is in Bowie, Maryland from where he travels to DC every month, at least once. He hands out dozens of treats to families, adults, and kids that are facing domestic violence and are homeless.

This teen also works with another nonprofit organisation in Washington DC named the No Kid Hungry, through which he makes pastries and distributes them to kids. He finds happiness in doing so and enjoys it to the core.

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“Your business model isn’t sustainable. What can a cupcake do?” My answer to adults who tell me this: In my opinion a cupcake can do a lot! I’ve seen a cupcake inspire smiles, tears, amazement, joy, satisfaction, happiness and other private emotions that I won’t share out of respect for people’s dignity. I’ve passed a cupcake to someone sitting with all their possessions in a shopping cart and had them tell me that this one simple act gave them hope. I’ve left a cupcake beside someone who’s sleeping under blankets on a grate because their friend on the grate next to them said it was ok when I asked. That’s why I give away cupcakes. I’ve been told that my business model isn’t sustainable and that I can’t scale my business while giving away a dessert equal in value, ingredients and labor to the ones I sell. I just look at those people and think about the next cupcake I’m going to give away! #hunger #changetheworld #giveaway #cupcakes #food #foodaccess #foodjustice #foodsecurity #dignity #feedthepeople #cookies #pie #changeagent #bethechange #kidpreneur #dreams #hope #sweettreats #oneforone #1for1

A post shared by Michael Platt (@michaelsdesserts) on Feb 17, 2019 at 8:06am PST

Cakes distributed so far

He sells around 75 cupcakes a month by using his social media handles. Michael is looking towards donating at least 100 baked goods in the upcoming timeline. He is also looking forward to spreading more awareness about the people who are underprivileged through his baking endeavours and creating more awareness among people to work for the less fortunate.

Michael’s Plans

Talking to The Washington Post, a leading newspaper, Michael said that he always wanted to do this. He felt like he wanted a purpose to do what he is doing, and this one feels right. The entire act, according to him, is all about helping fellow human beings. In his own words, “It’s all about helping people – not just having a purpose for yourself, but thinking about, ‘How does this touch other things?'”

He generally takes up pastry orders from people in the DC area, but he has occasionally made some out-of-state shipments.

We hope Michael makes it bigger and donates more yummy treats to the less fortunate to make their days brighter with smiles!