Life-Saving Impact of Baking: Transforming Every Oven Into a Rescue Kit
Janie Deegan's journey to entrepreneurship is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of second chances. After spending years battling addiction and homelessness, Deegan found solace and purpose in the art of baking.
Deegan, the founder of bakery Janie's, engineered her signature pie crust cookie in response to an off-the-cuff request from her now-fiancé. The unique dessert, a blend of traditional American flavours with a twist, has since become the bakery's most popular offering.
In 2015, Deegan made a life-changing decision. On her 30th birthday, she quit her job as a nanny and committed to baking full-time. This leap of faith led her to Hot Bread Kitchen Incubates (HBKI), a culinary incubator and training program for women facing employment barriers.
HBKI provided Deegan with the resources, mentorship, and commercial kitchen space she needed to scale her business. Through this support, she was able to refine her product, manage production, and access markets more effectively, contributing to her success.
Deegan's bakery, Janie's, has been a part of HBKI for over a year. The organisation primarily supports women- and minority-owned start-ups, and Deegan's perseverance and dedication have made her a shining example of their mission.
After graduating from a rigorous college conservatory program, Deegan faced a difficult period. She struggled with self-acceptance and spent 25 years running away from herself. But baking became her form of self-expression and self-care, helping her to find her way back.
Deegan's pie crust cookies have won various awards and have gained popularity on platforms like TikTok. Recently, she signed a contract with Balducci's and King's, an East Coast chain of gourmet food markets, with the hope that her cookies will be available in their stores in time for the holidays.
Deegan reflects on her journey and expresses amazement at what she has built for herself. Her ambition is to build a cookie empire rather than own a café. With the support of HBKI and the growing popularity of her pie crust cookies, it seems that Deegan's dreams are well within reach.
[1] Sources: [Link 1], [Link 2]
Deegan's story exemplifies the power of self-development and personal growth, given her transformation from battling addiction and homelessness to building a thriving food-and-drink business. Janie's pie crust cookies, a fusion of traditional flavors with a unique twist, not only became the bakery's best-seller but also gained recognition and awards in the food-and-drink industry. Furthermore, Deegan's venture into education-and-self-development, coupled with her resilience and creativity, is a testament to the impact baking had on her lifestyle and career.
