Good Bitches Baking
Good Bitches Baking’s (GBB) Queenstown-Central Otago chapter is one of 30 chapters around Aotearoa New Zealand made up of volunteers who love a bit of home-baking. The chapter’s Baking it Better programme has 101 volunteers on the roster, spread across Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton, Alexandra, Clyde, Wānaka and Cromwell, all baking treats for delivery to 24 organisations that support people having some kind of tough time.
Head Bitch Viv Madsen-Ries has been looking after the chapter since 2023, and says: “It’s such a great organisation to be involved with - it’s so simple. The idea behind it is that everyone deserves treats, with no judgement, and we’re so lucky to be supporting such an incredible group of organisations in our area.”
The organisations include:
- Able Minds
- Age Concern Central Otago
- Alexandra Parents Centre
- Alzheimer’s Otago (Home Share Group)
- Alzheimer’s Society Otago Queenstown and Wānaka
- Baskets of Blessing
- Central Lakes Breastfeeding Charitable Trust - Mums 4 Mums Cromwell and Alexandra
- Central Lakes Family Services - Mums & Bubs Group
- Central Otago Reap (Young Mums Group) Alexandra & Cromwell
- Community Networks Wānaka Food Bank
- Cromwell Foodbank
- Grab the Reins
- Happiness House
- Hospice Queenstown
- Lakes District Hospital
- Otago Southland Cancer Society of NZ Alexandra, Queenstown and Wānaka
- Remarkable Mums
- The Good Life Group
Since the chapter was established in June 2016, GBB volunteers have baked 2,574 boxes of treats, each of which has enough baking to share with 10-20 people - that’s a lot of moments of kindness!
As well as the day-to-day Baking it Better programme, GBB has been piloting community programmes including Prison Bake, Sweet As Hapori (4-6 volunteer-led programmes teaching practical baking skills and intangible lessons about kindness to self and to others), Business Bitching for our corporate friends and Collaborative Bitching for community organisations who would like to enable their service users to be part of the kaupapa. While these aren’t established in this chapter yet, Viv is keen to talk to anyone who might like to know more.
The Queenstown-Central Otago chapter is always on the lookout for more volunteers, and more recipient organisations as well. Viv says: “If you’re keen, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
gbb.org.nz/queenstown-central-otago/
Plum and cinnamon crumble cake by Good Bitch Cameron for Alzheimer’s Southland and Otago (Wānaka)
Rice crispie treat made by Good Bitch Amelia for the Salvation Army Space Parenting class
