Pies That Make a Difference: Clear Path for Veterans Baking for a Cause This Thanksgiving

If you’re looking for a way to make Thanksgiving a little more meaningful this year, and a lot more delicious, Clear Path for Veterans has you covered.

The Central New York nonprofit, known for supporting local veterans and their families, is baking up a full lineup of pies you can order ahead of the holiday. Each pie sold helps feed a veteran in need this Thanksgiving. It’s a simple idea that turns a great dessert into something that actually makes a difference.

You can pre-order online at clearpath4vets.com.

The Lineup: Classic Flavors and a Few Surprises

This isn’t a small-batch bake sale. Clear Path is turning out a serious variety of pies. Here’s what’s on the menu:

• Pumpkin Pie: Smooth, creamy, and not overly spiced. A perfect balance of flavor without that clove-heavy kick you sometimes get.

• Apple Pie: Topped with a generous layer of crumble and filled with apples that still have a good bite. Not mushy, not syrupy — just right.

• Pecan Pie: My favorite of the bunch. Sweet but not overwhelming, with a rich, gooey filling and a satisfying crunch.

• Chocolate Cream Pie: Because there’s always someone at the table who’d rather skip fruit and go straight for chocolate.

• Vegan & Allergy-Friendly Pie: Made by the team at Aurora Café in Cicero, this one means nobody has to miss dessert.

• And yes — a dog-friendly pie. Your four-legged friend can join the feast, too.

The whole lineup feels like Thanksgiving classics done with care. Nothing fancy or pretentious — just really good, well-made pies.

More Than Dessert

For Clear Path, these pies aren’t just about dessert; they’re about connection. The organization works year-round to support veterans through meals, job programs, peer mentoring, and community events. This pie fundraiser is one of their biggest seasonal efforts — and every purchase helps fund Thanksgiving meals for veterans across Central New York who could use a hand right now.

It’s easy to forget that while many of us are debating stuffing recipes or planning leftovers, some people are simply trying to make sure there’s food on the table. Clear Path’s mission is to make sure no veteran in our community has to face that alone.

Buying a pie is a small gesture, but it goes a long way.

The Taste Test

Of course, we couldn’t write about this without trying a few.

The pumpkin pie hits all the right notes — creamy, classic, and not overloaded with spice. The apple has that nostalgic, homemade feel, thanks to its crisp crumble topping and perfectly textured fruit. But the pecan stands out the most. It’s gooey, rich, and balanced — the kind of slice you keep going back for.

You can tell these aren’t mass-produced desserts. They taste like something made by people who actually care about what they’re doing.

Not a Pie Person? You Can Still Help.

Even if your dessert table is already full, there’s still a way to get involved. You can make a direct donation through clearpath4vets.com to support their Thanksgiving meal program.

Every dollar helps feed veterans here in Central New York — and that’s something worth being part of.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re planning ahead for Thanksgiving and want to skip the supermarket pies, Clear Path for Veterans is giving you a better option — locally made desserts that help people right here in our community.

Pumpkin, apple, pecan, chocolate — take your pick. Whatever you choose, it’s going to taste good and do good.

You can place your order or make a donation at clearpath4vets.com.