Frequently Asked Questions for Families
Ready to add some sprinkle-filled joy to your mission? Dive into our Family FAQs and get the intel on our celebration cakes for your little hero!
Discover cake options, sizes, designs, and how your family can join the sweet ranks. We’re honored to serve your celebration—let’s make it a cake-tastic operation!
How is eligibility determined?
Eligibility is determined based on the information provided in your application, including documentation such as deployment paperwork and verification of deployment dates with the DRC/FRG. This ensures that we can honor and support military families with accuracy and care.
Is my child eligible?
Any military child under the age of 18 with a parent deployed on their birthday is eligible to receive a cake to celebrate their special day. It’s our way of honoring their family’s service and making their birthday extra special!
How will Operation Cakes for Heroes communicate with families?
All communication will be conducted via email to ensure we have a clear record of correspondence with you, the Baker Troop, and application verification agencies.
In the rare case of an urgent need, we may reach out via phone call or text message as a secondary form of communication. Email remains our primary channel to keep everything organized and efficient.
How Far in advance do I need to apply?
The earlier you apply, the better chance we have of assigning a Baker Troop to your celebration. As a growing organization, we’re actively recruiting more bakers to join our mission. However, there is a possibility that no bakers may be available to take your request.
While we will work tirelessly to find a Baker Troop for your event, submitting your application as soon as possible increases the likelihood of success. We do ask that all applications be submitted at least 8 weeks before your celebration date to give us enough time to coordinate and prepare your special cake.
Baking and Serving Guide
How many cakes may my child receive from Operation Cakes for Heroes?
As a growing organization, we are building our Baker Troops to meet the demand for celebration cakes. Currently, children may receive one celebration cake every three years, aligning with new duty station assignments.
This approach allows us to serve more military families while encouraging you to invite new friends to celebrate alongside you. Thank you for understanding as we continue to expand our mission and reach more deserving heroes!
Will you deliver the cake?
In most cases, no! We ask that families coordinate in advance to pick up their celebration cake. We’ll assist in communication with your Baker Troop to arrange a time and location for pick-up that works for both parties.
Our Baker Troops are often juggling their own businesses, families, and schedules, so we kindly ask that you respect their time and arrive promptly to collect your cake. On rare occasions, we may have special drivers available to assist with delivery, but this is not guaranteed.
Whether it’s a scheduled pick-up, or a doorstep drop-off, we work together to ensure the mission stays on track and your celebration is a sweet success!
Can we request a particular theme?
You have the opportunity to choose a theme and flavor for your cake. A Cake Detail Request Form will be sent to you to capture your preferences. If needed, a member of our Baker Troop may reach out for additional details to ensure your cake is just right.
While you provide the inspiration, the design of the cake will be left to the creative freedom of our baker. This allows them to showcase their skills, try new techniques, or hone their craft. Rest assured, your cake will be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created with care by our dedicated Baker Troop!
What size cake can we receive?
The cake provided will serve up to 24 people. Your options include either an 8” double-layer round cake or 24 cupcakes, with servings based on a 1x2x4-5” slice size. If needed, a cutting guide can be provided to ensure precise servings. For larger gatherings, we recommend supplementing the celebration with additional treats to accommodate your group. Let us know how we can assist in making your event a sweet success!
Cutting Guide
What type of cake can we request?
You’ll be given the choice of an 8” double-layer round cake or 24 cupcakes—your mission, your call!
Can you request special dietary restriction?
At this time, we are not accepting applications for celebration cakes that require special dietary restrictions. Our Baker Troops operate on a volunteer basis, with most being home bakers, and we’re currently not equipped to provide these specialized services.
We deeply understand how important dietary needs are and empathize with families navigating these challenges. While we wish we could bake for everyone, please know our hearts are with you. As our Baking Squadron grows, we hope to expand our mission to accommodate these needs in the future. Thank you for your understanding as we continue striving to bring sweetness and joy to as many families as possible.
Our Baker Troops are Ready to Be Called Up!
Request a Cake Now for Your Child!
Important note: Once your application has successfully been submitted, you will see a confirmation page AND receive an email. If you do not receive the confirmation, please try again, preferably from a non-mobile device. If you have continued problems, please contact [email protected].