COEUR d’ALENE — Flour, sugar, eggs and a healthy dose of kindness. 

That's what goes into the desserts made through Community Cakes.

The nonprofit recently formed a North Idaho chapter to bring birthday joy in the form of free homemade cakes to people who might otherwise go without one. 

“This is just something I love to do," said Kacey Keating, organizer who previously lived in Boise. "It’s always been on the back of my mind, but I didn’t know if there was a similar thing here, so I reached out and asked if they would want to start a new chapter in North Idaho."

The group is welcoming both volunteer bakers and community partners to help with its sweet mission. 

Anyone who loves to bake can sign up, be vetted and matched with requests. 

Assisted-living facilities, hospice programs, shelters and other organizations can register to become partners and receive cakes for residents or clients. 

“I love decorating cakes. My mom is a baker, we did 4-H cake decorating when I was a little girl,” said Keating, who was a cake decorator at Costco for eight years.

Community Cakes was started in Boise in 2011 and today has about 150 bakers. 

At the moment, the Coeur d’Alene chapter has about 10 volunteer bakers who have a flexible schedule and can choose the cakes they bake each month. 

“You can essentially do one cake a month, two cakes a week, it’s really up to you. The more people the better,” Keating said.   

Keating is trying to build partnerships to make sure that people enjoy a birthday cake and feel the love from the baking community. 

She has been excited to see the emotional responses when someone learns about the project. 

“It’s just a fun way to give back. I think it’s going to make a big difference in people’s lives,” Keating said. 

To sign up to be a baker or community partner, or for more information, fill out the North Idaho Community Cakes form at communitycakes.org/contact-us.

    Community Cakes, a nonprofit that provides free homemade birthday cakes to people who might not otherwise receive one is now welcoming both volunteer bakers and community partners to join their growing effort.