Like was mentioned above, I too have done some freebies or low priced items just to 'get my name in new circles' but this request sounds like they are taking you for granted now and probably always would. You don't need customers like that. You must let all of us know what you decide to do.
(Ouch!! Wait a sec .... let me put a band-aid on the rug burn I got on my chin when my mouth hit the floor on this one!)
Hahahahah, thanks for the laugh indydeb, I did two cakes for the school last year and got paid for them both, "IF" I want to donate I will, but if they would expect it the answer would be NO WAY Hose' ........... 
That is insane!! I know your PTO has a BUDGET. I do cakes all the time, but I get paid to do it. I could understand maybe donating 1 cake, but what they want is INSANE!!!!
You know it's funny, I am doing a cake for my son's teachers next Tuesday, I was not asked. I am doing it because I like the teachers and the assistants and everyone has been really nice to my son and to the class. We had a great bunch of kids and the teachers keep on saying that. I wanted to do something nice for them to remember this class.
I called the office and asked what was being done, they are getting something small for everyone. I asked if I could bake a cake at home and bring it in, and they kept on Thanking me. So I will be happy to do it.
I said before I went to PTO meetings for my son's school and that is for the school where he will go next year. New programs and all that. They were great. I have done a lot of volunteer work in my life and this is absolutely insane to ask 1 person to do this much! 
So sorry you had to deal with such a bad idea!
Anyhow if I was ever asked in that matter, that would be it for me. 
I will do a lot of stuff for free or next to free, I am not legal so I give most of my stuff away, the only money I recover is when it's a big order and they pay me for the supplies. Sometimes I get a tip!! 
I think that the quote "mgdqueen" mentioned from Indydebi is great. 
I prefer to answer the "donation dilemna" in a former quote from indydebi-when you can get the stores to donate my mixes, eggs, butter, etc, I'll be happy to whip it up and donate it back to you. (hope I'm not remembering it wrong because I think of that OFTEN!!!)
But man. That is just not right! Especially last minute like that too.
I am still shaking my head. I feel sorry for you, I would not want to go back to those meetings, but you have to stand your "cake" and not take that type of abuse. 
I better go and cool off! 
Good Luck
"You can just use it as a tax write off"......
I'm going to have to start using that line. Next time I go to the dentist.. I'll just tell her to have the dentist "write it off."
You know the sad thing is that you are probably totally willing to donate to your child's school. I think most of us would be. The kicker is how they just dictated it to you without asking what is really feasable.
WOW!!!
I think I am hearing don't do the cakes...atleast for free.
I wasn't planning on doing it for free. So here was the plan. Like I read, "it's the kids school" and I feel like the more I do the kids in all grades benefit. Soooooooooooooooo....
I talked with the secretary on wed and she said they usually get the cakes from Sam's. The 1/4 is 20.00, so at the least 15.00 for the 1/4's. The 2 in's, I was going to call around and see what the going rate was for that. The full sheet she said at SAM's is 30.00 so I was thinking atleast 25.00, I know they alotted 100.00 for graduation, mints, plates, etc.
I was planning on shotting an email to the PTO pres and telling her I can't afford to let all the cakes go for free but would be willing to donate a 1/4 sheet. She knows I am a single MOM so it may be ok. I just hate to go out and "buy" cakes from sams and kroger knowing I can do a better job...but that's my demons. 
I know they will want to "pay" for the cheaper product.
Thanks for the input and I will let ya know what the final outcome is.
Patricia
That is a lot of cake for 2 weeks. I sure hope you are able to make some profit out of it. Schools are generally on a tight budget and teachers don't make much so I am sure they will appreciate anything you will make. I can't wait to start making cakes for my kids when they go to school. They think mommy is pretty "cool" right now.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Well, I dropped off the 1/2 sheet this morning...The secretary was in the office when I walked in. I told her I needed to take the cake upstairs to the lounge....she asked me if it was for my oldest class, I told her no, it's for the teachers for app. week, she said oh, ok in that case go ahead.
She didn't seem to want me to take it up stairs. Oh well, I finished that cake and 2 2in. this weekend, I can tell this is going to be a Long week.
I gave the PTO pres a total and she seemed ok with it. But I may have missed the dollar amount by a bit.
Patricia
I am the PTO president at my kids' school. As that, I am appalled that they would demand that of you with out offering compensation. We do a luncheon one day of the week and ask for donations from all the parents. I made a cake last year for the luncheon and they loved it. I got lots of orders after that. This year I am donating a bunch of cupcakes. I also said I would do 3 cookie bouquets for table centerpieces. The mom who is chairperson of the luncheon told me there was no way I was going to donate that much. She asked how much I would usually charge for a cookie bouquet and said she was going to give me something for them.
If they "demanded" that much from me I would say "HECK NO!"
I was PTO president in my daughters school for 10 years. Everything for staff appreciation was paid for with PTO money. We held a luncheon on one day and some of the PTO committee would bring one type of dessert (cookies, brownies, etc.) There is no way you should do this without getting paid and to linger this on all week with each group getting their own cake is a joke. Just because it's Teacher and Staff Appreciation week doesn't mean you have to celebrate all week long.
I am PTO vice pres. We do this same thing for staff appreciation. We buy the food with PTO money and then we all bake a dessert of two. We would never think of asking someone to make all these cakes for free. It is disrespectful and just plain rude.
Tell them no, that is to much time and money to do it for free.
Hopefully it works out for you. I think the whole thing sounded very strange, and how the secretary was acting when dropping it off.
Very Very ODD!!!!!!
Schools are on very high alert these days and most are very careful about who has access to the school. I'd rather have someone being vigilant about who is coming thru the doors than lax precautions any day!
I would tell them no, but if u want to be nice you should give them a list of stuff to buy that you need to make the cake and then some, and if they can't come up with it, then i guess they have no cake. thats tons of cakes they should just request like 2 1/2 sheets cake and everyone eat from there.
Tell them you are a business and as a business expect to be compensated as such. If you had been asked in a professional manner you might have considered it. But as you are not on any commitees or are contracted to do so I would say NO!!!
One cake to donate that is fine and dandy but dang a whole weeks worth of cakes. Nope, I would tell them the going rate and if they don't like it, they can always go to Walmart and I know from personal experience they would NOT donate that much cake. They would probably donate the first one but the rest would have to be paid for tax exempt of course.
Last month my son's school had a carnival to raise money for new playground equipment. Since this is my second month in business and I wanted the exposure, I donated six - 6" cakes to the cake walk and about 3 - 9" cakes, sliced and boxed individually for the bake sale. I put up signs and placed flyers and business cards out and have gotten several orders from that. Last week the assistant principal (who also orderd a cake from me for his personal use and paid regular price for it) asked if I would donate a coupon for a free cake to be used in a drawing for the teachers. I agreed and donated ONE cake. I will also send a 6" cake for each the teacher and assistant of my son's class as it is, after all, teacher appreciation week. I think that was plenty and feel honored to have been asked as that means they feel my cakes are valuable and teachers would be glad to receive one. But to expect you to donate that many cakes for free would indicate that while on the one hand they like your cakes, on the other hand they don't value your time or money and that would have caused me to politely decline.
Well, Today is the secretary's day and I make a 2in round. She loved it and everybunny raved over yesterday's cake and how her cake looked this morning.
The principal asked me if I did yesterday's cake and I told her "who else do you know around here that does it?" And I just laughed, she said it was wonderful and she figured as much.
Dodibug...I understand the high precautions at schools, however, I have been member of the church for several years, my kids have gone to school there 2 years. I am PTO hospitality person, Kroger card lady, sub secretary at PTO meetings, I work every market day, help with track, choir and god only knows what else THEY can think of. So I don't think I am one that they would worry about. All the kids know me as either Hunter K's mom, Morgan's mom or the cake lady. When I walk into Church all of the 6th and 1st grade turn around and wave, walking into school, I get hugs every time. Oh well, you get the idea. I LIVE THERE!!!
I will let ya know how the M & M cake goes over tomorrow.
Patricia
NO.
I can't believe these people! Don't they realize how much that will cost you in ingredients alone!?
Today was/is principal day. I took her the 2in round and made it like an M & M. She loved it!!! The secretary was the only adult that saw it and she stopped me going into the school. The principal should the cake off to all the kids that brought her gifts into her office. I think she was very pleased.
I talked with this yrs secretary and she said she would make sure I got paid for these cakes and to charge what I would if it was a regular customer
Tomorrow is Cafteria ladies day, they want an angel food cake. I will let you know what happens then.
Patricia
2in high, I think they are the smallest wilton pans they have. They may be 3-4 in round? Maybe?
I did take some pics but I am not able to get them on here for some reason. I have tried many times with a wrestling cake and two other cakes, but the powers that be won't let it happen.
Patricia
It sounds like you worked something out. Don't let them kid you, they have the money, I would have charged them your prices,not Wal-Marts or Sams. I just did a Teachers Appreciation Luncheon for 70, food and dessert, and they coughed up all the money with no problems. I think they were taking advantage of you.
Today is cafeteria ladies day....I made a 1/4 sheet angel food cake. The secretary made a fuss over it and the after school care leader loved it. Only 3 more to bake and decorate tonight.
Patricia
Wow, you've been busy this week. As long as you feel good about yourself, that is all that matters. Personally, I would have been willing to donate a cake or two until they told me to donate them all. At that point, I probably would not have even made one.
I usually donate for the fish fries and such, but I thought this was a bit much.
I took in the 2in high round for the janitor, 2 10inch rounds for the gym staff and rectory. The gym staff kept asking me questions about how to make them, if I made sugar free, did I do the angel food cake and on and on. Did I do the fish fry cake and on and on. You get the idea.
Anyway the week is over and only the sheet cake for graduation on the 22nd. I left a bill for the PTO pres and I saw here last night at track practice, I told her the bill amount appox and she said she thought that was in the budget. So I wondered if I undercharged them?????I am sure I did.
Patricia
I picked up my check from school this morning!!! And it was for the entire amount...I almost fell over. I still have the graduation cake to do, but I can't believe with all the talk they paid the entire amount.
Patricia
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