Well - winter is truly upon us and Christmas a mere stottie roll away! We've been very busy with the new stottie sarnies for Lumo trains - and the shop seems to get busier and busier - so thank you everyone who is able to visit us - and those who support us online - we really appreciate you all.
In October we had 30 local school kids in the bakery for free baking and crafts sessions. A grand time was had by all by making Halloween cupcakes and masks.
I'm pleased to announce that we have teamed up with www.feedingfamilies.org.uk to provide them with fresh produce on a weekly basis to replace our scheme for meals for those in need in the bakery - due to the issues I discussed in the last update. Families in need are referred in to Feeding Families by GPs and other organisations - and it really targets the support we can give. An extremely difficult and complex issue to try and support - but I believe we are doing the right thing. We are also supporting local food banks - pop up pantries and People's Kitchen alongside other smaller organisations such as www.ldne.org.uk which supports adults and children with learning difficulties. We are also still providing free daily breakfasts for local school children and free baking sessions. We will always try and support wherever we can - and we do this with your support - so a big thank you to all.
With your help in Oct/November we will have provided:
390 breakfasts to local school children
180 free lunches (Weds) (pizza or pie)
2 x Kindness Cookies
30 x free places for kids baking & crafts
450 x stotties Feeding Families
Support to LDNE providing low cost catering (LDNE provide some ingredient costs) for weekly family social events
Supporting weekly local pop up pantries and organisations such as People's Kitchen.
Keeping our shop prices as affordable as possible.
It's all go in the bakery in the run up to Christmas with lots of additional orders, buffets and online sales. We have launched all of our Xmas baked goods - all available in our shop from Xmas sausage rolls, mince pies to chocolate orange brownie. Some of our range is now available on line to post across the UK. We are a small bakery - so unfortunately we can only offer a limited selection of what we can offer in our shop in Shieldfield. All our December goodies and online ordering dates are now on the website. We are donating decorated gingerbread men to Feeding Families as well as fresh stotties during December as a little Xmas treat to those in need - and also some Scotty the Stottie books - so if you want to get involved you can pay forward both these items in our shop.
https://bigriverbakery.myshopify.com/collections/store
And just a heads up - for your calendar next year - National Stottie Cake Week 2025 24th Feb - 1st March 2025. We have Scotty the Stottie 'Stottie Power' T Shirts in both kids and adult sizes and make a great gift for the stottie fan in your life.
https://bigriverbakery.myshopify.com/products/scotty-the-stottie-t-shirts-stottie-power
Take care everyone and enjoy the season and keep cosy and safe. Next update will be in the New Year - with more detail about National Stottie Cake Week 2025.