On April 5, students from Saratoga and Los Gatos elementary schools stood outside of the Safeway in the Argonaut Shopping Center on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, enticing shoppers with the aroma of home-baked treats.

The girls did not stand in the chilling wind and 64-degree weather to show off their baking talents, though many passersby said they were impressed with the collection of the pinochi brownie squares—priced at $1 each— and chocolate chip and sugar cookies selling for 50 cents each. They were there raising money to help support the troops fighting in Iraq.

The operation was spearheaded by Saratoga Elementary School fourth-grader Sadie Misle, who said she was first inspired to start a bake sale after watching numerous war events covered in the news and having discussions with her mother about the soldiers.

"I kept asking myself, 'What can I do to help?' " said Sadie, who came up with the idea one week before the event.

Sadie's mother, Tamara, said she was impressed by her daughter's concern and level of enthusiasm for helping the troops.

"We started brainstorming immediately after, and Sadie started recruiting her friends," said Tamara.

Briana Balanad was one of the first friends Sadie phoned. Balanad, who would usually be skiing in Lake Tahoe with her family during this season, spent her spare time helping Sadie bake four batches of brownies and 12 dozen chocolate chip and sugar cookies, while her older sister, Eva, spent four days painting flags on rocks taken from her backyard.

"I thought it was great of Sadie to come up with the idea," said Briana, who is a fourth-grader at Yavneh Day School in Los Gatos. "It was very creative. My favorite part was baking the cookies."

The sale was very successful, according to Sadie's mother, who was at the bake sale for the entire four hours. The team raised $206.50 from customers and donations, over $100 than what Tamara had anticipated. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

Marcia Hansen was one of the many shoppers who said she couldn't resist the treats. In addition to spending $8 on four brownies and two painted rocks, which she said would fit perfectly in her newly landscaped front yard, Hansen gave a generous donation of $20.

"It's great that the girls are making the effort to reach out to the troops," she said. "It's also nice to see young people becoming aware of what's going on outside of their corner of the world."

Passerby Jim Reikes, who donated $5, said he applauds the girls for getting involved.

"It teaches the kids what freedom is all about," he said.