ST. LOUIS–A non-profit bakery on Cherokee Street is changing lives one loaf of bread at a time. Bridge Bread Bakery is helping those struggling to keep a roof over their heads by helping them make some dough. 

“We provide restorative employment to people who are homeless or housing insecure,” said Jessica Bailey-Wheaton, President of the Board of Bridge Bread Bakery.  

Over its 13 years of existence, Bridge Bread Bakery has helped around 125 people with a 75% success rate which means those bakers continued to be housed and holds a job.

“I didn’t know the sense of helping people until I started working here with Mr. Domke,” said Lance Armstead, a baker for Bridge Bread Bakery for the past 19 months. “I was in the pizza delivery business actually. So my job depended on me having a car.” 

Car issues led to Armstead seeking new employment and after misfortune lead to his home being foreclosed, Bridge Bread began helping his family of five via the non-profit's rental assistance program. In addition to a paycheck, Armstead loves the network of people around him including new president of the board, Bailey-Wheaton.

“Yes! (affirming his excitement for the new president), especially hearing that she was a lawyer. I got some issues.– she might be able to aid and assist with.” 

Founder, former president and current Executive Director, Fred Domke, says one of the organization’s recipes for success is building trust.

“They learn that if they're having problems in their life that has caused an impact on their career, we're not looking for a way to fire them and to get rid of them,” said Domke. “We're looking for a way to make them succeed.”

People of all ages and backgrounds have worked at Bridge Bread Bakery as bakers.

“It's not perhaps what people think of when they think of homeless people,” explained Bailey-Wheaton. “It can be a teenager who was living with their grandparents. Their grandparents passed away and they no longer have a home. We had a man who was living with their kids and their house got repossessed and so they no longer had a home.”

Bridge Bread gives those who are “housing insecure” a foothold to stability. 

“They come in here. They learn the skills to bake bread, bake desserts, like cinnamon rolls, other breakfast items. We provide them a living wage as well as statements for housing to get them housed and get them stable and get their lives back on track.”

Bailey-Wheaton recently took over as the new president of the board for Bridge Bread Baker and will help oversee a huge step forward. 

“Bridge Bread is actually opening our first additional location in the city. It'll be in the Delmar Loop at Skinker and Delmar. It'll be an artisan bakery. So hoping to bake goods that require more sweet equity, more skill and for us that's a way for our bakers to transition to make baking a career. Not just a job but a lifelong career that they could then stay with Bridge Bread or move on to another bakery.” 

Armstead is excited for the new location as well.

“That's actually closer to where I live,” said Armstead. “So if they need me over there, which I hope they do, that will be ideal.” 

Plans in furthering their career affirms Bridge Bread their employee are on the right path.

“It's different for every baker, but I think when you see them take ownership – They're coming in here and they are earning their wage and to them that is so valuable. It provides dignity,” said Bailey-Wheaton. “They may have a little help in getting to stable housing and a stable life but they are doing it themselves. I think once they really buy into that concept, that's when we tend to see that change.”

Domke believes the experience raises more than the yeast in the bread being baked; it also raises the bakers' hope.

“Hope in the baking. We think that people that are unhoused have had so many losses that they've kind of lost hope. They regain their hope and watching that transformation is really pretty exciting.”