Inspiring Conversations with Cindy Johns of Carriage Town Bakery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Johns.  

Hi Cindy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Blueline Donuts–launched in 2017– is a social enterprise of Carriage Town Ministries. The primary mission is to provide low-barrier transitional employment opportunities to those experiencing homelessness. Securing a dependable income stream is a key contributing factor to breaking the cycle of homelessness. In 2022, Blueline Donuts grew into Carriage Town Bakery featuring Blueline Donuts providing room for expansion into additional great bakery products and increased employment opportunities for chronically homeless men and women who have made an affirmative decision to extricate themselves from the streets. Our program teaches baking, safe food handling, and customer service to individuals seeking to gain skills needed for employment in the food industry. Your purchase provides them with opportunities to succeed. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
We had to learn how to make donuts. At first, we tried baking them – bad idea! A donut is not a donut unless it is fried! We tried a couple different oils and flour mixes. We had a resident who taught us so much. Also, other bakeries who shared valuable information. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Carriage Town Bakery. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Carriage Town Ministries (CTM) strives to meet the needs of men, women, and children living in extreme poverty in the Greater Flint community. CTM is the largest homeless shelter in Genesee County with 135 beds for men, women, and children. We are a clean, safe, encouraging place to land for all individuals, providing meals, personal needs items, clothing, medical screening, job training, and for those who are willing, a mentored route to self-sufficiency. With a desire to assist those seeking to move from homelessness to a self-sustaining life, the plan for a of low-barrier, transitional employment program was born. We choose to consider something in the food industry because we serve 460 meals a day, every day. Additionally, there are always jobs in the food industry. 

Carriage Town Bakery is a social enterprise, which employees 6 transitional employees who are residents of Carriage Town Ministries. They are training in baking, sales, and janitorial. We are connecting with businesses who are interested in partnering with us to give our most valuable employees a chance. This is what sets us apart from other homeless shelters. We are a learning environment – so our donuts may not be prefect, or we may not have exactly the donut you are looking for, but our donuts are very tasty, and the purchase of a donut gives someone who is struggling the opportunity to move toward a self-sustaining life! 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We were the thought leaders along with Kettering University for the University Avenue Corridor Coalition, a group of residents and businesses in our area who gather monthly to collaborate on beautification, crime prevention, and community activities. Our residents clean the litter from the corridor every morning. We are active participants on the county’s Continuum of Care and serve on its Governance Council. Both of these groups make Flint a better place to live, work and play. 

This city loves donuts, and we love serving them! Every time you purchase a donut, you are giving someone the opportunity to move from homelessness to a self-sustaining life! 

Thank you, Flint, for supporting us! 

Pricing:

• Donuts are between $1.75 and $2.00
• Dozen mixed donuts $16.00

Contact Info:

• Website: carriagetownbakery.org
• Instagram: carriagetownbakery
• Facebook: Blueline donuts at Carriage Town Ministries

Image Credits
J Johns Studios