It’s not surprising when we spend the first several months building ovens and then move straight into baking season in Minnesota. So far, we’ve produced and sold 543 specialty loaves and mini-cinnamon rolls…and we still have two months to go!
We’re also starting to plan and prepare all things Oktoberfiesta for this year’s 10th anniversary of Bricks to Bread celebration!
Stay tuned to our social media, newsletters, and website for all the latest about what’s going on and what’s coming up. And if I don’t see you at one of our local bakes, I hope to see you at Oktoberfiesta.
¡Pura vida!
BRICKS TO BREAD
June 2026 Newsletter
COMING UP IN COSTA RICA Our 5th Annual Women’s Conference, July 10-13
It’s hard to believe it’s been FIVE years since 17 of our entrepreneurs came from all over Costa Rica to attend our first Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Business & Leadership Conference. Before, during, and after every conference, we ask attendees what they found useful, and what they want to learn more about. Their input directly influences the agenda for the next conference.
This year, we are expecting 44 attendees, including three organizers and three presenters. Some of the topics of discussion will include Using WhatsApp for Sales; Education Is an Investment in Your Future; Managing Finances: Calculating Costs, Handling Petty Cash, Strategic Marketing; Registering Your Business; and Empowerment.
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS: Eliminating Poverty, One Oven at a Time
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030. Visit Welcome to the United Nations to learn more.
What have your gifts made possible?
In our newsletters this year, we have shown you the many ways your financial gifts have impacted our programs and mission, and how you can directly affect our next 10 years.
January focus: Your giving provided 10 years of growth, impact, and possibility.
February focus: Your monthly gifts expand our programs.
March focus: Your support replaces hazardous ovens with safe ovens.
April focus: Your funding gives volunteers opportunities to build, learn, and bake.
May focus: Your contribution to our mobile oven provides education, awareness, and program resources.
What does the future look like?
Our 5-year plan for alleviating poverty in Latin America!
* Increasing the number of oven projects by 140%.
* Serving nearly 300 families in communities across Latin America
* Assisting 180 new households to breach poverty with their oven-based bakery business.
* Providing more than 37,000 residents in oven project areas with access to fresh, healthy, homemade baked goods.
* Celebrating the combined total earnings of nearly $1 million by our women entrepreneurs!
Sisters Ceydi and Lilliana Loría of Bijagua, Costa Rica, are a model of our mission to ensure good health and well-being and end poverty in rural Costa Rica and other parts of Latin America. Since their oven was built in March 2023, they have created a neighborhood cafe! Today, they nourish their community with bread products, pizza, chicken dinners and other healthy organic foods, as well as host new oven recipients and travel with our staff to train our women entrepreneurs. (Photos: Before, after, and with their mother, Zeneyda.)
Your recurring monthly donation means you can say, “I am helping reduce poverty in Latin America!”Celebrate our 10th anniversary with your special gift.
Have you noticed our social media? We’re bringing you even more news, photos, and timely updates about our entrepreneurs, events, and volunteers!
And it’s all thanks to volunteer board member Brittany Sunderman!
Brittany is passionate about telling stories. Her experience in community and economic development, volunteer work with Peace Corps-Costa Rica, and helping build one of our ovens make her a natural at conveying information about Bricks to Bread.
When she’s not posting to Facebook and Instagram and acting as board secretary, Brittany is bringing people together for meaningful moments over coffee and living her best life hiking, dancing, and celebrating the magic in everyday moments!
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Our Contact Information www.brickstobread.org info@brickstobread.org 3870 Yosemite Ave. S. St. Louis Park, MN 55416
We’re proud to share that for the second consecutive year, we earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency by Candid (formerly GuideStar). We also earned our first Charities Review Council Meets Standards® seal! The review process examined four key areas: Public Disclosure, Governance, Financial Activity, and Fundraising. The Council commended us for aligning our practices, policies, and procedures to widely accepted standards of accountability. By participating in this process, we demonstrate responsibility, integrity, and transparency to donors as well as the general public.
