The People

Elena pioneered the Bread Share program in Lander in 2015! Starting with about 25 members she baked 4 loaves at a time in cast iron pots. After baking loads of bread in the home oven for about 4 years, we created a Kickstarter to help raise money for a European stone oven, the Rofco B40. Within a matter of days the community came together and brought this dream to life! Since then Mama Bakes Bread has continued to grow. We now have 2 Rofco ovens and a weekly bread subscription with more than 70 members.

The desire to feed people feels like it is ingrained in my soul. It is my love language, passed down to me from my Yia-Yia. I hold a deep belief that everyone deserves to have nourishing food. That is why I work with folks in my community to distribute bread to people in need. Through the Government shutdown of 2018-2019 I began the “Bread for Feds” program where any government worker that was laid off could come and grab a loaf. During the Covid-19 pandemic I baked weekly and distributed to the Free Pantries in Lander as well as through other organizations who are working to keep people safe and fed. None of this could have been done without the incredible support of my “Bread Peeps” as I call them. The folks who are on my subscription program and beyond. These folks donated hundreds of dollars to my “Community Bread” program. The fact that I am trusted to provide for my community is not lost on me. It will always be one of the great joys of my life.

The Other Great Joys of My Life…

Amidst my baking experiments I homeschool my three children: Avery, Clementine and Ruby.