Summer’s Project Charity baking goods to support children at Golisano’s

The only thing sweeter than a Fort Myers freshman’s baked goods are the reason she makes them.

14-year-old Summer Kates created a special recipe for giving back, and each ingredient she adds is a part of her goal to raise money for Golisano’s Children’s Hospital.

“I was still in the hospital when I decided I wanted to start baking for bake sales,” she said.

The same hospital that saved her life 2015 when she was hit by a car at the age of nine.

“Even while laying there all wired up not being able to do anything she was just so grateful,” Summer’s mom Kristi said.

Before she was able to walk again on her own, Kates began baking and selling cookies around Lee County hoping to help other child patients in Southwest Florida.

“They deserve more attention, they don’t really get as much attention as I hoped they would,” she said.

For five years now, Summer’s Project Charity creates cookies and raises thousands of dollars for the child life specialist program at Golisano’s.

“I think our big thing is empowering kids at this point too because so many parents have asked us…what can we do to get our kids to give back,” she said.

Kates continues creating cookies for charity with a little extra compassion mixed in.

“They can make a difference. They don’t need a lot of money or necessarily a lot of time, you just need the heart and the passion and the drive to do it,” Kates’ mom said.

Summer Kates will be at Wicked Dolphin this December 20 selling “Cookies For a Cause” 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. She will also be selling baked goods at the Produce Strawberry Festival January 26-January 31.

You can contact them here:  summersprojectgives@gmail.com.