A series of events led to a huge donation from an Ulster County business to a nonprofit organization.

Several weeks ago, Eric Deising, president of Deising’s Bakery and Restaurant in Kingston, visited Red Lobster as it went out of business.

He figured he’d see if there was someone cleaning out the place to talk to about getting any equipment they may be getting rid of. However, nobody was there, so he left a note.

It turns out, HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” had already bought the contents inside the Red Lobster.

When Oliver learned that the Deisings were interested in the equipment, he offered to give the bakery new equipment with one condition: to put his face on bear-shaped cupcakes. It turns out they were a hit.

“We did not expect that we were going to sell over 3,000 of these things in a week-and-a-half time, so we were very unprepared as we were trying to also prepare for Father's Day and graduation cakes and so forth. So, it was a tough week, but we got through it. My team was awesome. Everyone got behind it. The community got behind it,” Eric Deising said.

The community’s purchases raised $15,000.

Deising and his team donated the funds to People’s Place, a nonprofit organization that helps Ulster County residents with food insecurity and other needs.

The group was grateful for the donation.

“I think it is an amazing thing what can happen when an entire community comes together. And I know that people from all over our community and all over the state and out of the state came to Deising’s and bought a cupcake,” said Christine Hein, executive director of People’s Place. “Each of that cupcake bear, a certain portion came to People's Place. And when you add them all up together, the amount is astonishing. So, it shows what when everybody bands together, what can happen.”

People’s Place will be using the donation to redo their parking lot to help customers and volunteers get in and out safely.