Working to achieve our mission of ‘making Aoteraora the kindest place on earth’ is at the heart of everything we do here at Good Bitches Baking. Our Good Bitches bake to spread kindness in their community and make life a little bit sweeter for those who need it a bit more than ourselves.
One of the lovely recipients of our Nelson chapter is the Nelson Women’s Centre. Being able to share baking with this group is a pleasure for our Nelson GBB’s and today we want to highlight the amazing work this group does.
The centre offers a range of services, including access to social workers, general advice, low-cost professional counselling, food support, workshops, and emergency housing, “We operate from a person-centred approach, and our mission is for all women to experience empowerment in a non-judgemental and safe space,” says Centre Coordinator Georgie Kerby.
Good Bitches Baking first contacted the Nelson Women’s Centre in 2017 to see if they would like to receive some baking. As Georgie explains, this small gesture had an immediate impact. Georgie recounts a time when a young woman came in with three children needing a place to stay. The centre arranged emergency accommodation and a food parcel for the young woman, which included the week's baking.
The young woman began to cry as a result of a strangers kindness, ”This really changed the situation and put some love back into that family in that moment,” Georgie recalls.
The Nelson Women’s Centre allows anyone to drop into the centre, without an appointment or referral. Having fresh baking from Good Bitches Baking on hand when people arrive creates a more relaxed, homely feel in the centre and, according to Georgie, allows the centre to better serve their recipients.
When visitors to the centre hear that the baking is homemade and read the notes from bakers, it really makes all the difference. “Their faces light up. It’s not a box of baking, it’s a box of caring”, says Georgie.
To our Nelson GBB’s and those working at the Nelson Women’s Centre, thank you for your mahi. Your commitment to sharing aroha within your community does not go unnoticed.
If you are interested in receiving baking or becoming a baker, visit our chapters page here.
We are always interested in expanding our GBB community to share more sweetness around Aotearoa.
Nelson - This image was taken from newzealandnow.govt