34 Comments

  1. Melodye,
    I cannot thank you enough. I was not expecting this (clearly I would have washed my hair), but I am delighted to have such a bright and loving light shined on our project.
    We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
    xxoo
    Val

    • Melodye Shore

      My pleasure! There’s magic in the ongoing story of Depressed Cake Shop, and no small measure of elbow grease. In bringing so many people together around this very important cause, you help make manifest that Mother Teresa quote, “Not of all us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

      Much love to you, Val. Wishing huge success for Depressed Cake Shop, its volunteer partnerships, and those to whom you provide yummy baked goods, support and awareness.

    • Melodye Shore

      Thanks for stopping by! Val & Depressed Cake Shop are doing amazing things, for the greater good. I’m glad the idea resonated with you, too.

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  2. Terri Coppersmith

    Oh, I so love this concept! Misfortune cookies! And are those butterflies in the back? I’ll take two, please 🙂 What a loving and wonderful place.

    • Melodye Shore

      Misfortune cookies and Miserable Macarons! I can’t even… 🙂

      P.S. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. So good to see you here, Terri! Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

    • Melodye Shore

      Meeeee, toooo!

      Thanks for stopping by to read and comment! Please remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  3. Lindsay

    Our community would so benefit from this! We are a small town with lots of moms and families and this would help!

    • Melodye Shore

      You are not alone! I hope you’ll send them an email (the how-to’s at the bottom of this blog.) Tell Depressed Cake Shop about your community’s needs … maybe you could work together to bring a pop-up to your area!

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  4. Debbie Williams

    This sounds like a wonderful way to help those suffering from depression or other issues. I wish to help out in any way I can!

    • Melodye Shore

      You’d be SO GREAT at this, Debbie, what with your professional and personal experiences & expertise. Glad you connected with them by email–be sure to let them know your background & current interests.

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  5. rachel

    Love this concept. I am a cookie baker and would love to contribute if they come to the dc area!

    • Melodye Shore

      Wonderful!! I admire people who turn out beautiful baked goods (that taste good, lol). And to contribute them to such a great cause…well. That’s the hallmark of a truly wonderful person. I hope you’ll send them an email that expresses your interests in getting involved. I’ve included their contact information at the end of this blog… 🙂

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  6. Siren

    this is wonderful. My heart project is helping people with depression know that they are not alone. Thank you.

    • Melodye Shore

      Mine, too, Siren. None of us should ever feel that we are walking through life alone. I hope you’ll connect with them on social media and/or by email and that you’ll find that partnership rewarding.

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

    • Melodye Shore

      Thanks, Esther! So good to see you again! Your cruise pictures…wow, what an amazing adventure!

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

    • Melodye Shore

      Thanks so much, Lisa. I thought of your books, RAINING CUPCAKES especially, when I first heard about this enterprise. Reading + Cake = Happiness.

      Hey, that could be a great tagline for a Portland-area pop-up. 🙂

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  7. What a gift of awareness, support. I followed you both on Twitter (@managingeditor) and cannot wait to do something in my community. My daughter lost her best friend to depression that led to suicide at age 40. You further open dialogue and that’s where understanding begins – on any scale.

    • Melodye Shore

      Ohhhh, I’m so sorry about your daughter’s friend. It’s a lingering hurt for which projects like Depressed Cake Shop can be a healing balm. I truly believe that. How kind, how loving of you, to transform your pain into energy that serves the greater good. (You sent them an email, right? xo)

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  8. What a delicious way to raise awareness for a good cause — I totally agree that the stigma of mental illness must be eradicated. Having a surprise pop of color beneath the grey frosting is brilliant — there is always hope.

    How wonderful that you got to meet and talk with Valerie. I’ll take one of everything in that display case. 🙂

    • Melodye Shore

      I’d happily share everything in that display case with you, Jama. Wouldn’t that be the best kind of tea party…one where we indulge ourselves and support a great cause, all at the same time? I’ll bet you’d come up with some incredible edibles for the party!

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  9. Suzy Leopold

    Awareness, understanding and acceptance of mental health disorders is needed. Thank you for sharing Val’s story about her Dad and her amazing and her adventures with the Depressed Cake Shop.

    I will tweet this story on Twitter and follow @depressedcake and @melodyeshore

    Thank you.

    • Melodye Shore

      Thanks so much, Suzy, for helping to spread the word about Depressed Cake Shop. I agree that awareness & acceptance are key, and that Val’s story is truly remarkable.

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  10. “Anxiety Oreos, Misfortune Cookies, Miserable Macarons…” That’s hilarious! What a brilliant – and delicious – way of working to end the stigma.

    • Melodye Shore

      I know! So incredibly creative..I was giggling nonstop about those names. And isn’t that the point of Depressed Cake Shop, after all? 🙂

      P.S. Remember to click over to Rafflecopter (linked at the bottom of the blog), so you’ll have your entry registered in the prize giveaway!

  11. Clare

    I’m all for spreading awareness and stopping stigma, but I can’t help but feel stigmatized by this and it seems backwards. I have major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and have suffered a lot from other things. I don’t feel like a grey cupcake. I don’t have a cloud hanging over me. I have an integral part of me that makes things hard. While this seems is totally done with the best intentions and has probably done a lot of good, I feel this is making light of something that is actually very heavy. Why not cheerful colors? Why isn’t the hope on the outside? I feel that this is generalizing. Depression isn’t just grey. It’s technicolor, I am not defined by my disorder. I know people with depression who are purple and blue and green and every color in between. I’m glad for all the work being done but it still feels like it’s getting it wrong.

    • Melodye Shore

      I want first of all to thank you for sharing your thoughts about Depressed Cake Shop, and more so, for being open about the mental health issues you face. As you well know, stigmas are a powerful, silencing force.

      I get what you’re saying, I really do. And while I’d prefer a lengthy, in-person conversation to a brief reply in a text box, I hope to answer your question in a way that makes you feel heard.

      In an ideal world, prescriptions are titrated to the specific needs of a given patient, and therapies are custom-designed for each client. That said, as unique as we all are, I think it’s unlikely that we could get everyone to agree on a single visual to help symbolize depression’s myriad causes and effects. What we CAN do, however, is to build a community of support for those whose lives are touched in any way by mental health issues. And if we can do it in a light-hearted way, all the better. My thoughts fall in line with those who think there’s humor in those grey-shrouded goodies, that there’s sunshine behind the original concept, and that its warmth is shared by participants and planners alike.

      Even if the color grey doesn’t suit your sensibilities, it’s still cake, lovingly created and served. Love is the main ingredient, and that being a given, the rest is…well, the frosting on the cake. 🙂

    • Hi Clare,
      I also wanted to thank you for your thoughtful response.
      We totally agree that we are all multi-colored, all the shades of the rainbow.
      The gray element is meant as a symbol and that sometimes depression can feel like a gray cloud over a beautiful world.
      As we evolve our message and grow our community, we hope to embrace more kinds of art and all kinds of artists.
      Our main goal is to remove the stigma that still exists around mental health issues and create a safe community where everyone feels welcome.
      Thank you for sharing your story with us!!
      xo
      Val
      DCS

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