Scott Reamy, external affairs manager for Dominion Energy, visited with participants in the baking/job training classes held by Together We Bake, a nonprofit that recently received a grant from Dominion Energy. (Left to right) Lucy von Fahnestock, Tricia Sabatini, Lisbeth Delcid, Scott Reamy, Shavonne Sandlain, Jocelyn Hart, Sarah Strawser, Teresa Ross and Stephanie Wright, co-founder of Together We Bake. (Courtesy photo)
Every little bit counts, and the Alexandria-based workforce and personal development program will use the money toward teaching baking and food safety.
By James Cullum
Together We Bake just received a $2,000 grant from Dominion Energy, and the nonprofit workforce and personal development program plans to use the money toward teaching baking and food safety at their facility in Old Town. The grant was part of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, which has reportedly awarded $1.6 million this year to 200 nonprofits around the country as part of its Critical Community Needs grant initiative.
“Providing access to resources in the community is crucial for the continued success of these women,” said Together We Bake co-founder Stephanie Wright.”We are focused on increasing post-program support through some new mental health initiatives and services. Thanks to the generous grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and other donors, we will be able to achieve our mission.”
The six month Together We Bake program, which is held in the Downtown Baptist Church at 212 South Washington St., has provided former female prison inmates, victims of domestic abuse and the homeless with ServSafe certificates, baking skills, life skills and empowerment training.
“We conduct four multi-week sessions during the year for teams of 10 women,” Wright said. “Our kitchen produces cookies, granola, apple chips and trail mix that are packaged and sold in area stores. Through this hands-on experience, the women learn real-world skills and earn a certification that will help them get – and keep – a job in the food industry.”
