Baysider fights hunger, regulations

Jennifer Buljan’s marathon race to fight hunger began in Flushing over 20 years ago, but she may not get to cross the finish line, because it’s made of red tape.
The 25-year-old Croatian immigrant, who arrived in the U.S. with her mother and brother when she was three-years-old, has spent weeks organizing a charity fundraiser.
Buljan (pronounced bull-yan), who moved to Bayside in April, was inspired by the idea of “The Great American Bake Sale,” a campaign against child hunger organized by the charity, “Share Our Strength,” and backed by cable TV’s Food Network.
“I’ve volunteered with charities like City Harvest, The Coalition for the Homeless, The Queens Women’s Center and The Food Bank of NYC, but this is my first solo effort,” said the Queens College graduate with a degree in Social Services.
“I love Bayside. “From the beginning I thought big - I wanted to do more than just a little bake sale.”
With the help of State Assemblymember Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Buljan finally got the event scheduled for Sunday, August 26, at the handball court of Bayside High School, located at 32-23 Corporal Kennedy Street.
But then she ran into a roadblock.
“I understood that a bake sale didn’t need to have insurance to use school facilities,” she said, “but later they told me liability insurance was required.” The problem may have been her own enthusiasm.
Buljan got multiple bakers involved, including locals like the Francis Lewis Pastry Shoppe, Aphrodite’s Sweets, Oasis Caf/, Dunkin’ Donuts, and even Pierre’s Bakery, “all the way in Monmouth, New Jersey” she said.
Then Buljan really got rolling. “I got in contact with a children’s entertainment company called Speedo the Clown and Company and they offered to come for free. A DJ from P&R Entertainment also offered to play music for free.” She continued, “I went to my local fire house (Engine 320 on Francis Lewis Boulevard,) and the next day the Lieutenant called and agreed to have their truck there for the children.”
Even if a bake sale didn’t need insurance to operate on school grounds, Buljan’s mushrooming project, with clowns, face-painting and a balloon sculptor, had gone way beyond those parameters.
Still, Buljan has been getting good support. “They were very nice at the Department of Education,” she said, explaining, “They gave me until the day of the event to provide proof of insurance.”
The problem is that the premium for the insurance coverage, which will be around $250 to insure the 6-hour event (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), is a hefty expense for Buljan, who works as a clerk at a Whitestone real estate company.
“I grew up in a single-parent household,” she said. “It was my mom, brother and me - I watched her struggle to pay the bills and feed us, and I promised that one day, I’d do something to help someone.”
Now, Buljan needs help raising the dough to pay for the insurance. “I’ve been getting such wonderful support,” she says, “I hope I can get enough help with the premium.”
To contribute time, money or baked goods, contact Jennifer Buljan by email at fabulich5@yahoo.com.