This pie was made with love a thousand times over.

Earlier this month, Jennifer Perillo’s husband unexpectedly died of a heart attack. She asked everyone to make his favorite Creamy Peanut Butter Pie, and share it with someone they love. As a reminder of Mikey…as a reminder for all of us to not tell ourselves “I [will] make it for him tomorrow.”

Along with the outpouring of love and pies on Twitter with the hashtag #APieforMikey, Todd and Diane created the following video. It left me sad, yet hopeful. Sad for Jennifer’s loss, yet hopeful from the caring community that came together to support her.

 
But we can do even more than bake these beautiful pies.

“As you can imagine, Jennie is overwhelmed not only by her grief, and the sudden responsibility of raising two children by herself, but she is also struggling with this financially. She just learned that she cannot collect widow’s benefits from Social Security because she earns too much money each year. The health insurance for her and her kids runs out in December and she just learned that the total she will have to pay will be more than her mortgage. It’s possible she’ll have to pay off the entire mortgage in one lump sum because the apartment was in his name alone.

And more than anything, Mikey wanted Jennie to continue living her dream of being a food writer. And he wanted to make sure his kids were taken care of well. That’s why he worked as hard as he did.” — Shauna

Bloggers Without Borders started a campaign to raise funds to help Jennifer and her two girls. One by one food bloggers everywhere started auctions for #afundforjennie.

This afternoon, my kitchen will be empty and silent. As my own contribution, I will not bake a pie. Instead, I will donate the cost of the pie ingredients to A Fund for Jennie and share with you the beautiful pies made with love by other food bloggers.

Bob & Carlene at BS’ In The Kitchen

Lisa at Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives

Emma at My Darling Lemon Thyme

Jamie at The Unseasoned Wok

Remember to not keep telling yourself “I [will] make it for him tomorrow.” Well, maybe just this once. This once, do not bake the pie and donate the cost of the ingredients to A Fund for Jennie. Even if you just donate a $5 slice…a community of slices adds up to thousands of pies made with love.