Humboldt charitable baker gifted new oven from anonymous donors
Christmas came early for a charitable baker out of Humboldt after her oven stopped working properly.
Erika Rybinski founded her charitable bakery Pastry and the Piano in 2020.
“All of the proceeds that we collect go to different families in need in Saskatchewan or other charity projects,” said Rybinski.
Since its creation she’s raised approximately $20,000 for local and global projects, including relief for James Smith Cree Nation and school supplies for children in Ukraine. Currently she’s raising funds for 14-year-old Charlie Neilsen from Melfort who is battling Leukaemia.
“I know that her heart is in it, she’s not just doing it for the recognition. She’s doing it to help out and that really means a lot,” said Charlie’s grandmother Cyndi Neilsen.
Rybinski was inspired to help others by her grandmother Stella Powalinsky, who passed away in September. Powalinsky and her husband founded the Haven of Hope Home in Kinistino for children with intellectual disabilities.
“Stella is probably my greatest inspiration,” Rybinski said. “Grandma spent her entire life caring for the residents of the Haven of Hope Home until she could no longer. The residents called my grandma mom.”
While trying to carry on a legacy of helping others through baking, Rybinski noticed her oven wasn’t working correctly.
“Four minutes...and the cookies are supposed to bake for eight. So I tried turning around the cookies in the oven and nothing worked,” said Rybinski.
She took to Facebook calling on people to share deals they saw for ovens, or asking if anyone is looking to offload theirs after an upgrade.
What happened next was a Christmas miracle.
A-Line Furniture in Humboldt received a call from a buyer looking to remain anonymous.
“Somebody looking to make a purchase for Erika,” said A-Line Furniture co-owner Justin Lockhart “They picked a stove, arranged delivery, and we gave Erika a call.”
Last week they left a voicemail with Rybinski, which she played twice to make sure she heard correctly.
“I think it was a group of people that came together and purchased this oven for me and put the warranty under my name which is amazing,” said Rybinski. “Totally moved and touched to the bottom of my heart.”
When Cyndi Neilsen heard of the good news, she was overjoyed.
“For us the fact that there’s so many people that are supporting her, and in turn supporting us, that all means so much to us,” said Neilsen.
Rybinski calls the people who purchased her oven, her “Christmas Angels.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.