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King Cake fundraiser returns to St. Matthew

Donna Bassham and Jenifer Cameron display a large and small king cake at St. Matthew First United Methodist Church in Midwest City. The church is selling the cakes as a fundraiser for their Mobile Meals program.

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

A New Orleans tradition has taken root in Midwest City.

St. Matthew United Methodist Church is holding their 12thannual King Cake fundraiser to support their Mobile Meals program.

Jenifer Cameron, a native of New Orleans, brought one of her favorite traditions to the area as a fundraiser for the food program. Due to seizures and brain surgery, her memories are sometimes lost, so this event is her way of staying connected to her hometown.

“I don’t remember a lot of things you’d think people would remember, and the thing about King Cakes is it kind of helps me create a memory and I try to hold onto it as long as I can,” she said. “It’s part of my heritage of living near New Orleans.”

Cameron’s husband served in the Navy and they moved to Oklahoma several years ago. She had a King Cake shipped to her from New Orleans every year. When that got to be too costly, she started making her own.

The King Cake fundraiser started in 2012 at Douglas Boulevard United Methodist Church. The first year, they sold cakes to members of the congregation. The Oklahoman featured a story on the program and word quickly spread.

When Douglas Boulevard United Methodist Church closed, they relocated the King Cake fundraiser to St. Matthew, 300 N. Air Depot Blvd.

The church typically sells about 400-450 cakes each year.

“We have a lot of people that order every year,” Cameron said. “And I know what a lot of people want because they get the same one every year.”

Those sales dipped the past two years due to COVID-19 and winter storms.

The cakes are handmade to order by Cameron and other volunteers at the church. They cost $10 for a small and $20 for a large cake.

The flavors available are traditional, apple, lemon, cherry, peach, blueberry, strawberry, praline, raisin pecan, vanilla, chocolate, and cream cheese. Custom flavor requests are also available. They also have vegan and low-sugar options for those who are diabetic.

“We have people that mix them together or want half and half,” Cameron said.

Apple was a surprise bestseller last year, Cameron said.

“I was kind of surprised because we usually only have a few orders for that,” she said.

The Mobile Meals program relies on this fundraiser to help support the program throughout the year. The group feeds about 140 elderly homebound citizens experiencing food insecurity in the community. They prepare and deliver two hot meals per week with a bag of nonperishable goods for the weekends.

King Cakes can be ordered through Feb. 20. Orders must be placed at least one day in advance.

“We stop making them on Fat Tuesday,” she said.

Orders can be placed by phone, email and online. To order a cake, call (405) 795-4530, email mobilemealsofstmatthews@yahoo.com or visit stmatthew.org.

St. Matthew First United Methodist Church in Midwest City is selling king cakes to support their Mobile Meals program.

1 Comment

  1. Raymond Cornelison on January 27, 2023 at 11:28 am

    Sounds delicious

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