Bakery provides low-cost bread as ‘way to give back’
Growing up, Nestor’s Bakery co-owner Keith Jorgenson remembers his grandparents telling stories of communities coming together to help the war effort.
“I was raised by my grandparents and I grew up on stories about the Second World War, scrap metal drives and people pitching in and repurposing their businesses and efforts in a common cause,” he said.
With these stories in mind and a wholesale bakery that had lost 97 per cent of its customers when schools, restaurants and other businesses began closing, yet remained filled with staff eager to keep working, Jorgenson decided to pivot operations and adapt to the new reality.
It began with selling bread at cost to local community organizations that could afford it, and providing it for free to the organizations that couldn’t — with a goal to provide 10,000 loaves monthly.
In recent days, Nestor’s Bakery expanded the idea to offer low-income people baked goods for $1 each.
“I have a facility here that produces lots of food, so it seems like a shame to shutter that when people are also hungry,” he said. “So, from 1 to 5 p.m., whatever we have is for sale. It’s not old, it’s just the excess capacity for the bakery. Everything is a dollar for anyone who self-identifies as being low-income, so it’s a way to give back as well as keeping the lights on.”
The bakery also offers the option to order fresh baking for pickup or delivery through its website — with the added option to purchase additional loaves for charity.
Jorgenson said he’s just happy the bakery has been able to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping its connection with the community and helping as many people as possible is just the icing on the cake — though he noted that he hopes the business will be able to break even when all is said and done.
“Even if we lose a bit of money during the crisis, it’s better to keep the lights on and keep the staff employed; we’d be in a better position than to have shut the doors and try to figure out how to start up again afterwards,” he said.
“I think this will be a defining moment of crisis in our lifetime. It’s an all hands on deck situation. My grandmother always used to say to me, ‘Make yourself useful,’ and this is the way that feels like we could be of use.”