Direct Donation to the Forward Operating Base

Join us for the Taste of Christmas: Baking for Charity, a festive community event celebrating holiday flavors, family fun, and giving back! Hosted at Hand Picked Nursery’s 25-acre farm on Friday, December 6th from 11 AM to 3 PM, this exciting event invites bakers of all levels to showcase their talents in one of three delicious categories: Best Cookie, Best Pie, and Best Cake. The entry fee is $75, which includes your sample station setup and space to sell your baked goods during the event. Contestants are asked to prepare enough product to provide samples for at least 600 attendees, with each sample being a 4 oz. portion. These samples will be sold to the public through ticket purchases, and proceeds will be distributed as follows: 65% to the contestant, 30% to our two featured charities — the Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnston County and Forward Operating Base (FOB), and 5% to administrative costs. Each category will award first, second, and third place prizes. First-place winners will receive $100 cash and a $100 Hand Picked Nursery gift card. Second place will receive a $20 Hand Picked Nursery gift card, and third place will receive a $10 Hand Picked Nursery gift card. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your creations, connect with the community, grow your local audience, and compete for prizes — all while giving back to two incredible causes this holiday season.