Our Volunteers Bake All the Difference

Katherine Kehrli is the founder, chair, and chief bread & energy cookie officer. At the pandemic’s beginning, she found herself displaced, working from home, and searching for a way to help our local communities. Her heart was pulled to find a way to support local food banks struggling with increased demand and decreased supply. She is a lifelong advocate for nutrition and wellness for people and the planet. Research informed that the supply of freshly baked whole-grain sandwich bread at local food banks was limited. Her eureka moment was the discovery that donating freshly baked whole grain bread and, later, Energy Cookies, from our home kitchens directly to the emergency food system is allowed. Community Loaves was launched, and our “Breader Together” volunteers lean into the belief that we can bake the world a better place.

Cynthia Nims is a food writer and culinary consultant whose most recent books reflect her particular love of seafood, including Oysters and Shellfish. A graduate of the La Varenne cooking school in France, her work has included serving as food editor of Seattle magazine and contributing to many publications such as Cooking Light, Alaska Airlines Magazine and Coastal Living. In the realm of cookbooks, she has authored a dozen herself, and co-authored, edited or otherwise contributed to many others. Cynthia has also devoted much of her time to nonprofit work, which includes having served as president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and serving as board member for Tilth Alliance in Seattle. A novice baker, count Cynthia among those who the pandemic inspired to learn the art of homemade bread.

Amy Slate is a wife and mother of twins. She is passionate about active travel, longevity, and spending quality time with family and friends. Amy retired after almost 20 years with McKinsey & Co. in their practice management area. She is enjoying applying her former work life skills to her role at Community Loaves while continuing to learn from others.