Hope in the Baking
In October of 2017, Bridge Bread moved into the historic Vandora Theatre building at 2639 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118. Items available for purchase include breads, cinnamon rolls, bagels, cake, cookies, and more. The retail shop is currently closed, except for order pickup Tuesday Through Saturdays 9am to 3pm. Orders can also be placed online for pick-up and limited …
Bridge Bread Bakery empowers the housing-insecure with restorative employment, marketable skills, and financial assistance for housing, helping them become self-sufficient community members.
Bridge Bread Bakery is St. Louis’ only non-profit social enterprise that empowers individuals experiencing homelessness by providing meaningful work and marketable baking skills. We believe everyone deserves a chance to build a dignified life. Through our restorative employment and unique Housing Incentive Program, we equip our bakers with the tools and resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency and become contributing members of our community again. Bridge Bread is more than just a bakery – it’s a doorway to a hopeful and brighter future.
A social enterprise is typically defined as a business that generates profits to fund social programs. While this model is common, Bridge Bread offers a unique approach.
Rather than using profits to support an external organization assisting the unhoused, we are directly addressing the issue at its core by employing and supporting unhoused individuals ourselves. Our bakery serves as a platform to provide stable, full-time jobs with competitive wages, as well as essential support like move-in costs and ongoing rental assistance. By becoming an employer to those we serve, we’re breaking down barriers to employment and offering a tangible path towards self-sufficiency.
Essentially, Bridge Bread is a social enterprise that integrates social impact directly into its business model.
Our successful formula is built on three key factors:
Our Success:
Approximately two-thirds of the bakers who have worked at Bridge Bread over the years have been successful. They continue to be housed and employed.
You Can Help. We encourage the community to get involved:
Bridge Bread, founded in 2011 by Fred and Sharon Domke, earned a 2021 Gold Seal of Transparency. You can view our financial details and learn more about the people at our organization by clicking below:
List of Bridge Bread Bakery Events in 2024 Mary Queen of Peace 6th grade class Business Careers in Nonprofit at Chaifetz / SLU SW Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Group Social Justice Leaders Meeting at the Archdiocese Knights of Columbus Chesterfield Nerinx Hall Volunteer Fair Missouri Methodist Conference Bakery Tour The College School Bakery Tour Durant UMC Bakery Tour Crestwood-Sunset …
Bridge Bread Bakery 2024 Annual Report Leadership & Governance Strengthened leadership by separating the roles of Board President and Executive Director, improving governance. Welcomed two new Board members: Naomi Lopez (AB Mauri) and Tom Noonan (Assisted Recovery Centers of America), enhancing financial and operational expertise. Financial Performance Achieved Net Income of $30,694, a decrease from 2023. Sales declined by 9% …
Jessica Bailey-Wheaton Elected Bridge Bread Board President Seasoned healthcare legal professional brings proven leadership and business acumen to non-profit social enterprise ST. LOUIS, MO (January 15, 2025) – Bridge Bread Bakery, a non-profit providing restorative employment and housing assistance to people without safe and stable housing, today announced the election of Jessica Bailey-Wheaton as President of its Board of Directors. …
Over 45 St. Louis area churches promote and sell Bridge Bread to their congregations and we’re always looking for more churches to join. Reaching new distribution channels translates to increased demand and employing more bakers for more hours per week and fewer homeless people on our streets. The basic steps of running a Bridge Bread program within your church include …
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