Rise & Shine Bread, a volunteer organization that bakes bread and provides it to Tempe charities that feed the food insecure, is looking for more volunteer bakers. 

Currently, the organization provides 250 individual loaves to Tempe Community Action Agency Food Distribution Center each week, press release stated.

Bakers are asked to volunteer one to four times per month, using the organization’s website to sign up. Volunteers are provided a standardized recipe for honey oat wheat bread along with bread bags, ties and labels. 

The website includes videos about the project and an instructional video on how to bake the bread. Rise & Shine Bread asks that the volunteers purchase their own ingredients and equipment, but there is a fund to defray the cost if a baker needs assistance. 

Financial donations can be made at www.riseshinebread.org. 

Founder Andrea White said in the release that the group of volunteers has been called the “bread angels,” and they hope to continue helping their neighbors. White along with Karen Maish also recently received the Don Carlos Impact Award for their work.

“Whether baking alone at home or in a group, our bakers feel good about making a difference in our community,” White said.

Each day, Monday through Friday, TCAA prepares 50 bags with a loaf of bread, peanut butter or tuna fish, a piece of fruit and a bottle of water and passes it out to those in need, the release explained. 

For some, this is the only opportunity to have a balanced and nutritious meal they can eat anytime. 

“The response from staff and clients has been great, everyone likes the bread and the mini-loaves are perfect for our homeless population,” Casey Hopkins, TCAA food pantry manager, said in the release. 

Modeled after similar projects in other communities, Rise & Shine Bread recognizes the prevalence of bread in all cultures, the release stated. 

Working with Rio Salado Café, a recipe was developed that includes only bread flour, whole wheat flour, oil, oatmeal, yeast, honey and salt. Founded in 2021, Rise & Shine Bread has provided more than 18,000 mini-loaves for distribution in Tempe, Mesa and Chandler.