Baker and pie truck owner delivers hope through TOLI
Gold Star Pies' Heather Briggs, with TOLI client and fellow pie baker, Marcia, last year.
How does a pie baker in Colorado get involved in a global poverty ministry like TOLI? It’s a more natural connection than you might think.
When Heather Briggs, owner of Gold Star Pies in Colorado Springs, first learned about TOLI’s model of providing microloans, training, and spiritual support to needy entrepreneurs in poor communities, it struck a chord deep in her entrepreneurial heart. So she decided to travel on a TOLI trip to Nicaragua in 2019 to learn more. Then it got personal.
"When I was on the site visit, I got to meet Marcia (pictured), a mother and pie maker in her community," Heather says. "She received a TOLI loan to purchase equipment and initial grocery inventory for a pie business. She brought pineapple and lemon pies for us to sample, and I could taste the love and devotion that went into making them. Our connection as small business bakers was sweet, and I was reminded of the goodness TOLI offers to so many creative, hard-working entrepreneurs."
Heather joined TOLI's board later that year. Her business experience, heart for people, and creativity have already made TOLI a better ministry. And the generous way she shares goodness through the pie truck has helped introduce scores of new people to our mission.
"I love the people aspect of TOLI," Heather says. "It's people loving people, and coming alongside to inspire, build up, train, and problem solve. It's so much more than a lending program."
On October 13, Gold Star Pies will again host "Get Pie. Give Hope." For the third year in a row, Heather will make and donate pie to benefit TOLI. Attendees will “name the price for their slice,” knowing every dollar goes toward providing poor entrepreneurs with microloans. The really fun part? The highest payer is treated to a private Gold Star Pie Truck party hosted by Heather herself.
TOLI is so much more than a lending program. And in the same way, TOLI supporters are so much more than donors. To us and to our clients, supporters like Heather are friends, cheerleaders, teachers, learners, mentors, pray-ers ... family.
And through them, God has made our world a bit smaller, and a lot better.
Marcia is a TOLI client, pie baker, and mother of five.
Live updates and prayer
Join TOLI staff, supporters, and partners at 12pm MT on October 13 for our monthly sharing and prayer time.
This month, you’ll meet Lucy Njeri, TOLI Social Worker in Kenya. Lucy will share latest updates from her region, including our new business training program she is providing to scores of budding entrepreneurs in the slum of Kiandutu, north of Nairobi.
To join us, email Liza to receive your Zoom link or click the button below to JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM.
