When
Respond Bakery opened its doors at 9th and Pearl Streets in North Camden, it was the first full-service bakery in the neighborhood in nearly 50 years. After three months -- and enough bread and pastries to serve a small army -- it's clear the new business is a big hit.
The bakery is an extension of the nonprofit
Respond Inc., an organization that, among other services, provides a 16-week Culinary Arts Job Training Program. Overseen by Chef Kendall Elliott, the course is free for all students, who typically range in age from 17 to 25.
"Many of these kids dropped out of high school or were recently incarcerated," explains Wilbert Mitchell, executive director of Respond Inc.. "This program gives them marketable skills to take into the marketplace."
In addition to employing seven local people, the bakery, which officially opened February 14 of this year, is an opportunity for students to put their skills to use in a real world setting.
"The purpose of the bakery is to sell the students' goods made in the program," says Mitchell. "Plus, the bakery serves the neighborhood. It’s hard to get fresh bread in North Camden."
The bakery also serves various pastries, muffins, cakes, healthy snacks and the Camden Cookie, a signature item that has already become synonymous with the bakery. In addition to participating in local farmers' markets, the bakery also caters large events, makes custom cakes and bakes enough bread to feed 800 kids per day at Respond Inc.'s childcare facility. Flying Kite served their delicious sourcream pound cake at our recent Camden kick-off meeting.
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., closed Sunday.
Source: Wilbert Mitchell, Executive Director, Respond, Inc.
Writer:
Greg Meckstroth