Whiz Kid Kristen Wegner Selling Vegan Baked Goods to Help Tornado victims

Name: Kristen Wegner

Age: 17

School: Dual enrolled at J.W. Mitchell High School and Pasco-Hernando Community College.

Grade: Junior at Mitchell

Where she lives: Veterans Village

Reason for Awesomeness: Kristen Wegner is organizing a vegan bake sale at the in New Port Richey on Saturday, May 14.  All the proceeds are going to the Salvation Army to support relief for victims of the tornados that swept over seven Southern states from April 25-April 28, killing at least 350 people and leaving thousands without homes. 

“Relief efforts is really what I’d like it to focus on,” Wegner said. “Because I know that in the news, all the relief organizations are pretty cash strapped because of all the natural disasters that have happened in the past two years.”

Wegner is promoting the sale. Her boyfriend Wesley Sextro, 18, is doing most of the baking, using dairy-free and egg-free recipes.

"Every time there's a natura disaster, I want to do something," she said.

As of Friday morning, a sheet of peanut butter Rice Krispies treats, three batches of fudge drop cookies, 30 chocolate chunk cookies and frosting had been made.  The two were planning on finishing up finishing up cupcakes, blondies and more Rice Krispies treats Friday.

Wegner has never completed a project like this before.  What made her want to help aid relief?

“I guess I’m older now,” she said. “And since I started college, a lot of the things I have to do are on me. So I just figured it was time to actually do something. I’m too old to pretend like I can’t. Or at least try to do something.”

Wegner and her boyfriend paid for the bake sale ingredients themselves, but they’re cheap. She sad she hopes to receive at least $100 at the sale. That would be a return on her investment.

The bake sale is an easy way for people to help out people in need without spending a lot of money, Wegner said, and they'll get something for their kindness.

Buy your tasty treat from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the West Pasco Habitat for Humanity ReStore (4131 Grand Boulevard, New Port Richey)