SOMA Neighbors Bake, Craft, Buy, Support Cancer Fight

For the fifth year running, the Steinberg family of Maplewood hosted a Book Sale/Bake Sale/Craft Sale to raise money for Kids v. Cancer.  The organization promotes pediatric cancer research.

Saturday's sale saw dozens of eager shoppers scooping up books, baked goods, crafts and coffee beverages. 

At the beginning of the day, more than 80 boxes of children’s books, carefully organized by age group and interest, were placed in and around the family's front yard. Local kids, parents, and a few eager librarians filled bags and boxes with their finds.

"The first year, our sale was a relatively modest affair. We culled from our shelves and whipped up some baked goods, as did some generous friends and neighbors," writes Jane Steinberg in a blog post. "Our friend Jacob, who died of brain cancer when he was 10 and in whose memory Kids v Cancer was founded, loved to have fundraising bake sales, and he loved to read. The concept, for us, was perfect."

The price is also right. "At 25 cents a book (ten for $2), we are not making a major donation," writes Steinberg. "But this community has been so generous, that our total at day’s end is always much higher than it has any right to be. We are amazed at the things Kids v Cancer has managed to achieve. Since last year’s sale, thanks to the tireless efforts of Kids v Cancer, Congress passed the Creating Hope Act, which provides incentives to pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs to treat pediatric rare diseases."

All books left at the end of the sale were donated to the Orange Book Pantry.