The holiday spirit is in full swing as local baker Jen Chapman leads a heartfelt fundraiser titled "Baking Spirits Bright" to benefit Ancla de Amor, an orphanage in Mexico. The initiative combines Chapman’s passion for baking with her deep connection to the ministry, which was founded by her brother, Brian.
“I’m just a home baker who loves to bake,” shared Chapman. “My brother and his family started Ancla de Amor, so it’s pretty near and dear to my heart. This bake sale felt like a way I could help.”
A sweet gesture for a serious cause
Ancla de Amor provides shelter and support to children in need, and Chapman’s bake sale is designed to raise funds to further its mission. The fundraiser offers festive cookie boxes in two sizes: a 30-piece assortment for $45 and a 70-piece collection for $100. The boxes include homemade treats such as cream cookies, ginger snaps, homemade Oreos, lemon cookies, and turtles.
“All proceeds go directly to Ancla de Amor. We’re covering the baking and packaging costs out of pocket, but we’re also accepting donations to help with those expenses,” explained Chapman.
Chapman emphasized the quality and care poured into each box, making them perfect for gifts, gatherings, or personal indulgence. “They’re beautifully packaged—like a gift—and there’s a little more heart in it than your typical store-bought baking.”
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Growing the effort
This year, Chapman has enlisted the help of a team of ten bakers to expand the bake sale’s reach. “I’ve done these bake sales on a much smaller scale before, but this time we want to blow it up a lot bigger,” she said. “We’ve divided cookie responsibilities, and at the end, we’ll pull it all together and make sure everything gets done.”
Orders for the cookie boxes are being accepted until Wednesday, November 27th, with delivery or pick-up scheduled for Thursday, December 12th.
A family mission
Though Chapman has yet to visit Ancla de Amor in person, she and her family, including her three young daughters, plan to join a mission trip to the orphanage in February. “I fully expect my heart to be broken,” she admitted. “But I’m almost more excited to see what it does for my girls and how it impacts the children at Ancla.”
How to support
To place an order or learn more about the fundraiser, contact Jen Chapman at 204-823-2094 or visit her Instagram page, @bakingforhope_jc.
“We’re just happy for any support, whether it’s buying baking, sharing the word, or donating directly to Ancla de Amor,” said Chapman.
With Christmas around the corner, Baking Spirits Bright offers a chance to enjoy delicious treats while making a meaningful impact.