Two Squamish guys are making good things rise during the pandemic, literally.
With people out of work — including themselves — Raoul Tillieux and Michal Marcis saw an opportunity to launch Solidarity Bread as a way to do something that would help others in Squamish.
With every order of sourdough bread, the company gifts at least one loaf to Squamish Food Bank or Squamish Helping Hands.
Additionally, they will donate their financial profits to these organizations for the length of the pandemic.
"Our main goal is to address food insecurity in town," Tillieux told The Chief, just hours before they began to make the dough for the latest orders. The dough will ferment overnight to be baked the following day, the pair explained.
"Food insecurity has really gotten out of hand in Squamish since layoffs started because of COVID, " Marcis added.
Howe Sound Brewing has donated their kitchen to the cause, while the restaurant is closed.
In addition to baking the bead, the pair hand-deliver — while wearing protective gear — each loaf to customers and the charities.
They delivered their first 30 loaves on April 17 and are set to deliver 90 loaves April 20.
Marcis said it is heartwarming to connect with people by dropping off bread — even if they are social distancing — as they see people get their bread and smile.
Tillieux, who is originally from Belgium, but came to Squamish to attend Quest University, says that bread has always been a big part of his life.
"Bread has been a staple two times a day in my family for all of my childhood," he said. When he moved to Squamish, he was a bit dismayed at the store-bought bread offerings. This was a catalyst for him to learn how to bake bread.
After graduation in 2018, he decided to stay in Squamish.
He has worked in the restaurant industry since.
Marcis had been launching a construction-waste recycling company in Vancouver, but that idea was put on hold when the pandemic hit.
After the pandemic, when everything reopens, the pair are aiming to keep going in some form and hope to help spread the buy one, gift one idea to other businesses in town.
Find out more about their bread and program at solidbread.ca.
