Cake picnic on Medina Square benefits non-profit, Sawyer's Wish

MEDINA — Those who stopped by the Medina Square on Sunday could sample slices of cake to benefit nonprofit Sawyer's Wish. Litchfield resident Callie Geringer organized the "Slices on the Square" event. Participants were encouraged to bring a cake to share with others. Those who did not bring a cake could make a donation to Sawyer's Wish, so they could try a few pieces of cake. "I saw there's a cake picnic that happened in San Francisco last year, and they had over 1,300 people attend," she said. "I know that we wouldn't get that many, but it's such a good turnout." The mission of Sawyer's Wish is to help pediatric hospital patients change their room environment by donating colorful and character-themed bed sheets to them, said Sawyer's Wish Director of Development Kayla Scalf. "We change up the basic white sheets and give them any character or theme that they love and try to bring a little holistic hug and comfort them," she said. The inspiration for the organization came from the actions of Sawyer Riggenbach, who was being treated for Burkitt's lymphoma at Akron Children's Hospital at the start of the pandemic when he was 8 years old, Scalf said. "He got put into the Make a Wish program, and his wish was that everybody would get sheets like his Uncle Johnny gave him because it really provided that level of normalcy and autonomy that he wasn't feeling," she said. "His uncle was moved and had to start the nonprofit, and so he did just that. Now we're in 62 hospitals across the United States." The partnership between Slices on the Square and Sawyer's Wish happened through social media, Scalf said. "I've always wanted to do a picnic where we have the sheets and families sit and relax to get the mission out," she said. "(Geringer) was more than gracious, and it's been great." Geringer said she remembers her sister being very sick when they were younger, and she thinks Sawyer's Wish is a great cause. "You can feel good about donating to it," she said. "The kids are really brave that are in the hospital all the time." Scalf said she hopes the event brought families together and got the word out about the mission of Sawyer's Wish to help sick children and their families. Geringer said she is thankful to put on the event. "(This event) is also about coming together, having company and meeting new people," she said. "Obviously, we all like cake, so it's about sharing and talking about something we all have in common." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.