“Simply put, a good bitch is someone who gets stuff done, who sees a need and responds to it without needing applause or gold stars. The way we use language in the 21st century has changed and it keeps changing. Calling our network of generous volunteers Good Bitches is just one more example of that. People can choose what they get distracted by or what offends them. Our community of volunteers take pride in being known as Good Bitches and our recipient organisations love what we do, so that’s what matters most,” says a spokesperson for the GBB Wellington HQ.
You don’t have to be a woman to be a Good Bitch; it is a gender-inclusive term. The mission for their growing army of people is to make Aotearoa the kindest place on earth by enabling small doable acts of kindness that will help to create a compassionate, resilient, supported and supportive community.
Each chapter has a Head Bitch (HB) who is responsible for setting up and overseeing a roster system for the volunteer bakers and/or drivers to bake and deliver the boxed baked goods.
The Gisborne chapter of GBB was set up three-and-a-half years ago by Sarah Punnett, who was previously involved with the North Auckland chapter.
“I became HB of the Gizzy chapter after moving here from Auckland. There wasn’t a chapter here so I decided to set one up. There are three of us on the committee and we have 23 active Good Bitches and two community-based recipients who distribute our baking to those in need,” says Sarah.
“We are a small yet mighty chapter, as the cyclones earlier this year proved. At times we had no comms and it was incredible to see how the Good Bitches who could help just started baking and getting it out to those in need. We baked at least 20 extra boxes in a week.”
The roster system is emailed out to volunteers each month and volunteers can sign up what week and day best suits and fits in with their life. Baking days are either Sunday or Tuesday. There is no pressure to sign up each time and the committee are grateful for all the help they receive and if baking isn’t your thing, then picking up and delivering the baking is an equally important part of the service.
Cardboard cake boxes are provided for the baking and the baker chooses what they would like to bake, savoury or sweet treats — the bakers also provide their own ingredients.
Supergrans Tairāwhiti Trust is one of the community organisations who receive and distribute the baked goodness to whānau in need. Each Sunday, a delivery driver picks up baking from the participating bakers’ homes and delivers the boxes to Supergrans Tairāwhiti (a registered food bank) on the Monday morning.
“The beautiful baking we receive is added to food parcels that have been made up on that day. They are then delivered to whānau who have been referred to our foodbank and are in need of food support,” Supergrans manager, Linda Coulston said.
“The home baking adds a really nice touch to those experiencing hardship or in a crisis. A list of the ingredients used is included with the baking for those with possible allergy alerts and often the bakers will add a lovely message which is really special.”
The Gisborne Care and Craft Centre are also recipients of the delicious baking from GBB. This long-established group meets once a week on a Tuesday at the St Andrews Church Hall to provide companionship and social interaction in a friendly and caring environment.
The volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation caters for people with disabilities, the elderly and for people with health concerns.
GBB has been providing weekly baking to the Gisborne Craft and Care Centre for three years and over this time has built quite a rapport with the volunteers and their clients there.
Sarah says it’s the best place to deliver baking to.
“They are so happy to see you and you normally get a hug.”
The baking is very well received as it eases the pressure on the volunteers who are tasked with providing a hot meal for lunch each Tuesday and for the clients it is a constant source of excitement and anticipation as to what the baking might be each week.
The baking for the Gisborne Care and Craft Centre is a “bake and drop”, where the bakers deliver their prepared baking directly to the centre on a Tuesday morning.
In May of this year, the GBB committee, consisting of HB Sarah Punnett, Heather McIntyre and Leanne McKenzie, organised a first of its kind in Gisborne, a free community cupcake decorating workshop.
Liaising with Sue Bristow, (Head of Department and technology teacher at Gisborne Girls’ High School), they were able to secure the use of the food technology room to hold the workshop.
Kathie Rutherford was invited to join the workshop to provide her expert advice around cupcake decorating. The numbers were capped at 20. The cupcakes were supplied and participants decorated over 180 cupcakes. These were then donated to Supergrans to distribute to those in the community who need kindness in their lives.
The Gisborne chapter are on the lookout for more Good Bitches to sign up to this unique charitable organisation whose aim is to spread kindness through the art of sharing home-made baking.
“Our aim is to grow the service. With more volunteers on board we will be able to tap into supplying more recipients to distribute the baking in the community,” Sarah says.
If you love to bake and love to share, consider signing up and becoming a GB and help spread the kindness.
There’s more than one way to be a GB. You can bake or deliver, or both, whichever you choose. You will be part of a nationwide movement that is spreading sweetness throughout communities.
Registrations for local chapters are streamlined through the national office and can be found by visiting https://www.gbb.org.nz/volunteer.
The concept of GBB is more than just about the baking — the driving force behind this vehicle is about spreading kindness to people in need.
