Recently at the Division Street farmers' market that takes place every Saturday in the Gold Coast, a Sweet Miss Giving's truck was sitting there.
Not only was this a welcome sign because of the items the truck sellssome of the tastiest desserts aroundbut because of where the money goes.
Sweet Miss Giving's, which started in 2008, is a social-enterprise bakery and jobs program that offers baked goods. Profits from said goods to go help the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS-affected individuals connected with the agency Chicago House.
Those who intern at Sweet Miss Giving's are filtered through Chicago House. The paid internship, which takes place at a bakery in Goose Island, lasts six months, although it follows a four-week unpaid training period.
Training manager James Henderson told Windy City Times that the goal is to find the interns jobs before they done with the internship, adding, "It's a full-time job applying for jobs."
However, these individuals hardly go out unprepared. In addition to the experience they garner working at the bakery, there are recovery meetings, Henderson said: "They build self-confidence" He added that they learn how to work with other personalitieswhich can be jarring for someone who has not been in the workforce for a while.
When asked what he liked most about being there, Henderson was quick to respond. "I like seeing a lot of different people coming through here and giving them chances." As for what he likes the least, he said, "It's a business. There are only so many mistakes that can be allowed." However, from appearances, those mistakes are rare.
As an aside, Henderson related something interesting: "My first job was in a bakery at 16. I never thought I'd be working in a bakery now."
Regarding the future of Sweet Miss Giving's, Henderson said he "would like a retail storeeventually, branching out to other cities."
By the way, the food truck mentioned earlierwhich sells cupcakes in such enticing flavors as chocolate, red velvet and carrot, as well as biscotti and other goodiesappears during the week in the Loop. To find out its location, follow it on Twitter at @smgfoodtruck.
See www.sweetmissgiving.com . For local orders and catering, visit www.sweet-missgivings-chicago.myshopify.com . Also, email info@sweetmisgivings.com or call 312-255-8470.
Sweet Miss Giving's also has a retail space in the Chicago French Market, an indoor marketplace at 131 N. Clinton. See http://www.frenchmarketchicago.com/index.php.
Lastly, Sweet Miss Giving's will participate in a "Culinary Conversation" Wed., Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at Chicago's Downtown Farmstand, 66 E. Randolph St.
Photos by Andrew Davis