The Grateful Bread for Charity
The Grateful Bread for Charity concept (teaching others how to bake bread for charity) originated after working with a handful of neighbours in 2007 to get a farmers’ market going in Kemptville, Ontario. Market-goers loved the fresh bread, but I found it tough to maintain the weekly commitment. Other vendors agreed to learn my method so that when I couldn’t be at market, there would still be a consistently good product there. I was asked by the Salvation Army in 2008 to provide bread for their Mothers’ Day fundraising brunch, and recognized an opportunity. I told the other farmers that the cost of learning how I bake bread would be some of the bread they baked at the workshop to donate to the Sally-Ann fundraiser. Five people learned how I bake bread, patrons of the brunch enjoyed delicious fresh-baked bread, and funds were raised for a great cause. There was so much positive response to the Mothers’ Day workshop that for Christmas 2008 I hosted another workshop, but this time upped the ante. The cost would now be some donated bread plus a commitment to “knead it forward” (i.e. teach someone else in support of any other good cause). Former students also got involved and together we provided 113 loaves of fresh, homemade bread to the Christmas hampers of needy families in our community. I moved to Parksville in 2010, but former students (and market partners) in Ontario still continue to provide bread for charity through workshops. The tradition continues here as well. Workshops in Parksville & Courtenay have since provided bread for the Salvation Army food bank and “Empty Bowl” fundraiser, and the Knox United Church Fall Fair fundraiser. Students from the North Island Distance Education School (NIDES) have also had two workshops and provided bread to the Salvation Army in Courtenay-Comox (taught by a former workshop participant – a chef, no less!)
The need is great here in Oceanside. The Salvation Army in French Creek estimates there will be more families through their doors this Christmas. If you are interested in learning how I bake bread, are willing to have your bread nurture charity, and will consider passing the knowledge on to others for any cause, anytime in the future (kneading it forward), please call or email me to register for the next workshop. The Grateful Bread
Rob Mathewson
[email protected]
250.586.5537
www.gratefulbread.ca
