On Thursday, February 12, the smells of chocolate and butter filled the lobby of Haldane High School. The Identity Club hosted a bake sale in Haldane hallways to raise funds for LGBTQ+ youth mental health services. Organized by club president, junior Lincoln Wayland, and vice president, sophomore Scout Thakur de Beer, with the guidance of Haldane teachers and club advisers Andrea McCue and Anna Pearce, the event raised over $400 for The Trevor Project, a national non-profit dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project also operates an online social community, TrevorSpace, with over 700,000 members. 

McCue explained that the club focuses on celebrating queer history and advocating for LGBTQ+ youth. “[Hosting] a bake sale is a way for the Identity Club to engage with the school community in a fun, positive way while also raising money for the Trevor Project,” McCue stated. For Thakur de Beer, the cause holds significant personal meaning: “I am a queer teen, as is a solid portion of my friend group,” Thakur de Beer stated, noting that navigating the current political and social landscape as a teenager can be “extraordinarily taxing.” By donating profits to The Trevor Project, the club aims to ensure crisis resources remain available for students in need. McCue noted that the Trevor Project’s resources closely align with Haldane Identity Club’s mission, “to provide a safe, empowered space where our differences are celebrated.”

The sale required navigating what Thakur de Beer described as “beautiful chaos.” While advisors handled paperwork, Wayland and Thakur de Beer managed pricing, posters, and scheduling. Despite the lunch hour rush and friendly competition with the Valentinogram sale nearby, club members successfully managed the table throughout the school day.

Participants described the atmosphere at the table as high energy. “It was so crowded and hectic,” recalled club member and junior Lela Gurvich-Andrews, who helped manage the sale. Club member and sophomore Petra Brooks-Saladyga echoed the sentiment, noting that the experience felt like “running a business.” Brooks-Saladyga stated that she was motivated by the knowledge that the proceeds support a cause that affected her personally, as well as others: “It feels good knowing I’m impacting someone out there by helping the club donate money,” she said.  McCue noted the high-quality interactions and positive response from the community. “I was very impressed with the conversations our students had about The Trevor Project, and how open they were to learning about what the Identity Club is all about,” she shared.

While the fundraiser has concluded, the Identity Club continues to have its meeting every Thursday in HS room 110. Thakur de Beer invites interested students to attend, describing the group as a welcoming space for everyone. For future club members, Gurvich-Andrews offered one practical suggestion: “Bring extra napkins!”