Are you interested in baking the world a better place right from your own home kitchen? There is an impressive band of home bakers here in Mill Creek doing just that, twice a month. The group is part of Community Loaves, which was launched in April 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. It is the brainchild of energetic founder, Katherine Kehrli, who saw the “knead” for freshly baked whole-grain bread in neighborhood food banks. She says, “Food insecurity touches a surprising number of people in our communities, and rarely do they receive freshly baked anything.” Thus, she launched a volunteer baking force to provide nutritious whole-grain sandwich loaves to community food banks. 

 

Today, the organization is proud to support 44 partnered food banks and posts an incredible history of donations - over 170,000 loaves of bread and nearly 160,000 whole grain energy cookies. It is a tasty initiative that nurtures the home baker, who loves to bake, as much as it nourishes the recipient.

Under the generous leadership of volunteer, Veronica Knudson, the effort is going strong in Mill Creek. This local support was launched in October 2021 and has donated an impressive 1,110 loaves and 3,375 whole grain energy cookies to Mill Creek Community Food Bank to date. Veronica says, “The positive response from clients and staff of the Community Food Bank has been so gratifying to hear. The only possible improvement would be to grow our donations.” Growing donations takes more volunteer bakers joining our spirited baking brigade! 

 

This past December, in addition to donating their signature sandwich loaves and whole grain energy cookies, bakers also provided an end-of-the-year festive treat box filled with a delicious Holiday Shortbread Cookie. It is part of the annual “Baking Spirits Bright” campaign and a tasty and fun way to cap off a year of donations. 

 

As the new year has started, a time of good intentions and optimistic resolutions, why not consider volunteering from your home kitchen? Help us support Mill Creek Community Food Bank by growing our twice-a-month donations. The CL recipes are straightforward, with plenty of support for new bread bakers and a super easy whole-grain energy cookie option for those who may be time-constrained. The choice of what to bake and when to bake is always yours! 

 

Interested? Visit www.communityloaves.org to learn more and sign up for a Volunteer Information Session.