Volunteer John Schmidt Bakes Bread for 2023 Gala for Bridging
Bridging volunteer John Schmidt loves baking bread.
Serving as the lead baker with the bread-baking ministry at White Bear Lake United Methodist Church, (WBLUMC) he and the team have baked thousands of loaves of bread for the church and community over the past 10+ years.
This unique bread ministry began around 2010 when Pastor Bryce Johnson, now retired, spent his sabbatical learning about the history of baking bread and, alongside a team of volunteers, built a community bread oven at WBLUMC. John and other bread team volunteers have continued his legacy of baking delicious bread, leading bread-baking classes, and hosting events that engage the community by baking and eating bread together.
Through a community-focused fundraising effort called Baking with a Purpose, the WBLUMC bread ministry team offers freshly baked loaves of bread to the congregation. Accepting free will offerings, the team donates funds from each monthly Baking with a Purpose event to a designated community service organization.+
“We, the team, make a great loaf of bread,” says John. “Oatmeal Craisin walnut. Pain au Levain, whole wheat, sourdough, cinnamon raisin, Ciabatta – we had these at our last three Baking with a Purpose bakes. Over the years, we’ve made 20-25 kinds of bread for Baking with a Purpose, as well as bread for visitors, communion, and pizza events.
With funds raised through Baking with a Purpose, WBLUMC donates nearly $4,000 annually, dividing it between five nonprofit organizations.
And that’s where Bridging comes in.
John knew of WBLUMC’s connection to Bridging through his wife Roberta who had already been volunteering at Bridging. The bread ministry team decided to expand its support by designating Bridging as one of its Baking with a Purpose recipients.
This spring, the bread ministry team and WBLUMC congregation raised $650 at the Baking with a Purpose event to benefit Bridging. On behalf of the WBLUMC baking team, John utilized the funds to purchase 66 sets of silverware, fulfilling an essential inventory need at that time. Last year, the bread ministry team raised $650 for Bridging and purchased new blankets with Baking with a Purpose funds.
As an “on-call” shopping volunteer at Bridging, John witnesses the impact that Bridging has on individuals and families who are pursuing housing stability. He works alongside recipients of Bridging’s services, listens intently, and helps ensure that each person experiences dignity and a personalized experience while furnishing their homes at Bridging
“We’re involved in the process, and everything we do can help facilitate this mission,” he says.
With the 2023 Gala for Bridging approaching on September 29, 2023, John wanted to do more to ignite engagement in Bridging’s vital work.
John has curated an enticing culinary learning experience for the Gala’s silent auction, centered around his passion for baking bread. A group of six is invited to learn how to make and bake bread in John’s backyard brick-oven —a backyard centerpiece he built when he retired—surrounded by the beautiful backdrop of his masterfully-manicured flower gardens.
“I want people to learn how to bake bread. I want the experience to be fun. They’ll find out how easy it is,” he says. “We’ll bake some artisan Old World sourdough and enjoy a great lunch on the porch. Everyone will go home with a freshly baked loaf of bread, starter and dough, and fabulous recipes for bread they can make and bake at home.”
John encourages everyone to bid on his bread baking experience AND donate their own novel items for the Gala for Bridging’s silent auction.
“The key thing is to come up with something you’re good at and create an experience around it. Just set up something simple and teach people. Do it to help raise money for Bridging.”
To donate a Gala silent auction item, email jill.leonard@bridging.org