Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Ballenger.
Rita, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I retired from Tri-C in December 2010, I was awarded 55 free credit hours. I decided to enter the Culinary Program, specifically the Baking track. In spring of 2011 I went to a human trafficking presentation fully expecting to learn about human trafficking in the third world. However, it was about human trafficking in the United States and even in Cleveland. I left there burdened, wondering what I could do. I had the thought “How can I use my new skill of baking to help the human trafficking problem”. But for the two years I was in the program I could not think of a way to do this. However, during the last month of the Baking program, a new store opened in my neighborhood, and I had the idea to sell my sourdough bread there. They liked the idea and May 31, 2013 was the beginning of Abolition Bakery. Abolition Bakery is home produced and volunteer operated. Nobody has ever received financial compensation for the work that they do at Abolition Bakery, including myself. The mission of Abolition Bakery is to raise awareness of human trafficking and to donate proceeds to human trafficking organizations. Since 2013 we have donated over $25,000. The organizations that we have donated to are listed on our website. Presently, I specialize in floral cupcakes and cupcake bouquets. When I have a big order, I have volunteers come in and help at my house.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Yes, it has been a smooth road. Because it’s a home produced cottage industry, I don’t have a lot of business overhead. And that affords me much peace of mind. Also, since the beginning, people have been very supportive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have always loved flowers. When I became an adult with my own home, I was excited to have a flower garden. And when I started baking, I knew I wanted to make cupcake bouquets. However, it was a bit of a struggle to figure out how to build them and package them. I would look at YouTube videos and follow the instructions, but the frosting would fall off the cupcake or the cupcake would fall off the toothpick. It took about two years to figure out how to stabilize them.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have lived in Cleveland my whole life. I love the Metroparks. I love the medical care. I love the water supply from Lake Erie. I love that we rarely have natural disasters. I love the culture and arts we have through the Cleveland Orchestra and various museums. I love the affordable cost of living. I suppose what I don’t like are the gray skies that come with winter.
Pricing:
- IndividualCupcakes, $3
- Three cupcake bouquet $25
- Seven cupcake bouquet $55
- 12 cupcake bouquet $75
Contact Info:
- Email: Abolitionbakery@gmail.com
