Mother’s Day Essay Contest With a Sweet Twist

Carousel Cakes is marking Mother’s Day this year with its first essay contest. The “Cake for my Wonderful Mother Contest” drew close to 60 entries from all over the country in just one week.  Entrants were asked to explain how their mother inspired them. 

The winner of the contest hails from Pennsylvania. Melanie wrote about how her mother has volunteered as a foster mother to more than 160 babies over the course of 40 years. She wrote how her mother continued to be a role model as she cared for her husband and mother who suffered from cancer and a brother with muscular dystrophy. 

This is an excerpt from her entry. The entire essay appears at the end of this article. 

“She was the most positive role model that a child could have. We learned that acceptance, compassion and caring for others could provide riches far beyond anything monetary. My mom deserves cake and so much more!”

Melanie received two free cakes shipped anywhere. Four runners-up received 50 percent off cakes.

Carousel Co-owner Nancy Finkelstein said, "The submissions we received were so moving. There is nothing more beautiful than the selfless giving of a mother. This was a theme that we saw running through all of these essays. It was very difficult to choose a winner. Some of us were in tears as we read through them. We ended up giving a little something to everyone who entered." 

All participants received 20 percent discounts off an order.

Mother’s Day is the second busiest holiday of the year for Nanuet based Carousel Cakes. Their volume of sales for Mother's Day is only surpassed on Thanksgiving when most families spend the holiday at home. Carousel sells more than 1,000 cakes for Mother's Day with orders split between wholesale accounts, the Nanuet bakery outlet, its online store that ships cakes and upscale restaurants.

Martin Lefkowitz founded the family-owned business in 1965. It now sells more than 40 different varieties of cakes. Carousel’s Red Velvet Cupcake was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in “O” Magazine and then in 2012 Oprah chose the Blue Velvet Cake for her December 2012 "O" List.

Finkelstein said they look forward to Mother’s Day and have been operating at full capacity.

"We do love it, as moms and grandmas can get that sweet gift for their day, and our experience shows that a cake is an important part of many family’s celebrations," she said. “Carousel has been doing this now for 38 years, so we are well-prepared for these seasonal peaks in our business as people are increasingly using our online store to send cakes all over the country, and surprising their loved ones."  

This is what Melanie of Susquehanna, PA wrote.

“She has done so much for others, even though she has never had very much for herself. She has done everything out of the goodness of her heart, never expecting to be recognized or rewarded for it. She is a nurturer by nature and has fostered over 180 babies of every color and religion over the past forty some years. When my dad was stricken with cancer, she cared for him at home. All the while caring for my siblings, myself and up to 4 foster children at a time. When dad died at only 42 years old my mom became the sole provider for all of us. She continued fostering out of her sheer love for children. She also took in daycare in order to provide for her family. When her brother became bedridden with muscular dystrophy, she split her time between our home and my grandmothers so that she could aid in his care. When my grandmother was stricken with cancer, she took her into our house so that she wouldn't have to go into a hospice or nursing home, all the while taking care of us and the foster kids. She was the most positive role model that a child could have. We learned that acceptance, compassion and caring for others could provide riches far beyond anything monetary. My mom deserves cake and so much more!”