Martina’s Post

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have started Together We Bake. I was introduced to the program while incarcerated and gave my application to my counselor, however, she said I couldn’t apply until I came to the Guest House.(which I said wasn’t fair ) What Together We Bake has given me is immeasurable, I have met some awesome women, formed bonds and know I have someone to go to to just “talk” about things. I was able to get my picture taken with the mayor,after delivering cookies and granola, went to Whole Foods and saw the display of products and talked to the manager, assisted at the Farmers Market while hearing how Together We Bake was in the paper. All of this has brought me into contact with members of the Alexandria community and helped me to feel a part of something again. Before I left prison, I said that it was rough for me to accept help from strangers but the strangers at Together We Bake and Guest House have come to mean so much to me. They have helped to make me feel a complete and well rounded individual not just an ex-convict. I am so glad that I made the decision to take part in this program and hope to one day open my own Bakery. I learned so much and baking was the least of it. I will take these skills forward into our community and hopefully be able to give back to others the same way.