Red's Bakery on Commercial St. in downtown Nanaimo has restarted their 'Muffin Fund' as a way to raise money for grocery store gift cards to help needy local families. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

MUFFIN MONEY

‘There’s so much need out there:’ Nanaimo bakery turning muffins to much-needed groceries

Aug 10, 2020 | 11:03 AM

NANAIMO — A fixture of the downtown core is turning a delicious baked treat into much needed support for local families.

Red’s Bakery recently started up a ‘Muffin Fund’ to help families in Nanaimo struggling to make ends meet. The bakery collects all proceeds from muffin sales and uses the cash to buy grocery cards.

Stevie ‘Red’ Sawatzky, bakery owner, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ve given out over $1000 in the last week, with a major push coming through the weekend.

“There were so many people who needed help who were messaging me and I couldn’t turn them away,” Sawatzky said. “We went and bought a pile of new cards and they’re (already) gone.”

The fund was kickstarted by some extra money the bakery had collected and staff donating out of their own pockets, however demand far exceeded their ability to continue paying outright.

fiery scene

Parksville man killed in late night crash along Hwy. 4

11h ago

fire safety

'Install, test, replace:' smoke alarm safety top of mind for Nanaimo firefighters

19h ago

Island Intensity

Clippers lose hard fought battle 3-2 to Grizzlies

Oct 05, 2024

The bakery then began asking people to contribute by purchasing a muffin or donating to the fund.

Sawatzky said many of the people receiving gift cards are in a tough position as a direct result of COVID-19.

“I had a lady and family of five, they’re trying to survive on $1400 a month from maternity leave…you can’t do that, nobody can survive on that.”

The muffin fund will remain a fixture of Red’s Bakery for the foreseeable future.

“It’s really important for a community to pull together, that’s my big thing, Sawatzky said. “There’s so much need out there and if we can all pull together we’re going to make it through this.”

More information and updates on the fund can be found on the Red’s Bakery Facebook page.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley