About Us
ABOUT THE BAKERY
CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN'S "ON THE RISE BAKERY" GIVES MEN A NEW LIFE
Detroit, MI (March 23, 2009) - The Capuchin Soup Kitchen's ROPE
ministry
(Reaching Our Potential Everyday) has opened its first business
outreach, "On
the Rise Bakery." The bakery is located 6110 McClellan, located near
the
intersection of Gratiot and I 94.
The bakery is staffed by seven men who have been incarcerated or who
have
completed an addiction program. The goal of "On the Rise Bakery" is to
have
the participants learn a marketable skill while continuing to become men
of
greater integrity.
Volunteers are the heart of "On the Rise Bakery." Many volunteers
(mostly
from the suburbs) join the individuals and friars, baking, packaging,
and
readying the goods for the Sunday parish sales. The men explain that
the
volunteers are the most valuable asset of "On the Rise Bakery."
Ed Collins, Crew Leader and former prisoner, explains "We didn't have a
lot
of caring in our lives. We needed to process and understand healthy
relationships. There is a lot of warmth and caring with the volunteers. We
have a real connection with these people. It rubs off being with the
volunteers. We are seeing strong family values for the first time in
our
lives."
Baker Lammie Rhodes, a recovering drug addict, adds, "Working with the
volunteers has been a big part of my development. It's easy for me to
withdraw. They won't let me. If they see me being quiet, they won't
let
me 'just be.' They've taken us all into their hearts. They know our
backgrounds and they don't care."
Capuchin friar Ray Stadmeyer explains that the bakery is not about the
process of baking but learning healthy relationships. "These guys have
had
tough lives. They have faced hard, hard struggles that are difficult
for
the average person to imagine. For most of these guys, this baking
program
is their first real opportunity to succeed."