Who is "Sarah Bellum"?

We love this question! Sarah Bellum is not an actual person. Instead, it's a play on words that makes one think about an important part of the brain, the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the coordination control center of the brain, and we're all about a coordinated team effort here at Sarah Bellum's Bakery & Workshop. So, Sarah Bellum refers to the cerebellum in the brain. We also chose this name because it's comforting and homey, kind of like thinking about "Sara Lee" foods that are familiar and comforting.

Are your gluten-free cupcakes Celiac-safe?

Celiac disease is a serious immune response to gluten, and we respect that people with Celiac disease have no tolerance for even microscopic presence of gluten in their foods. Unfortunately, our cupcakes are not "Celiac safe" because we share the kitchen with products containing gluten. The Celiac Disease Foundation has a good website for additional information.

When did you move into your Portland shop?

A fabulous opportunity presented itself to us in fall 2018. We were not planning this move at the time, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up. We embarked on a three-month journey to renovate a beautiful site in the heart of Multnomah Village and get it ready for commercial food preparation. With a great crew and dedicated team effort, we had our soft opening for the "First Friday" holiday festivities on December 7. We learned from that soft opening, and officially opened our doors for regular hours on 12/11/18. We are looking forward to an amazing adventure and building a sustainable program to support many folks with acquired brain injury in our community.

How do I get your cupcakes?

Stop into our shop in Multnomah Village in SW Portland! We're located between Fat City Cafe and Annie Bloom's Books in the heart of Multnomah. Our address is 7828 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. We hope to see you soon!! You can place orders in advance online on our order page. Please contact us at least one week in advance to plan for your order. Delivery service for advanced orders may be available.

Are your cupcakes healthy?

There is mixed science emerging about brain-healthy foods. We make no claims that our cupcakes are healthy or good for the brain. That said, we aim to minimize processing and toxic chemicals in our ingredients by sourcing organic products where possible. We are using organic, unrefined cane sugars, organic flours, organic milks, organic eggs, and organic fruit.

Do you bake anything else besides cupcakes?

We are a cupcake specialty bakery shop, and we offer a range of cupcakes and flavor options. In addition to our yummy cupcakes, we also make cookies, brownies, lemon bars, cheesecakes, granola bars, rugelach, and seasonal treats. We use only quality ingredients in all of our baked goods! We would love to hear from you about what else you'd like to see. . . contact us here.

How can I help?

Sarah Bellum's Bakery & Workshop is a small, but growing, social enterprise, non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives one cupcake at a time! It takes a team of dedicated, passionate people to make everything happen while producing delicious, hand-crafted cupcakes made with organic ingredients. There are several ways you can get involved:

• Volunteer - we are interested in volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, from dishwashing and cleaning in the kitchen to delivery driving. Other ways to volunteer "behind the scenes" would be offering any expertise with business planning, marketing, social media management, recipe development, or lending your expertise in an area we haven't thought of yet. Contact us if you're interested in volunteering.
• Support us by ordering our delicious cupcakes or visiting our shop.
• Make a tax-deductible donation to support our work and development. Your financial support will help us expand and meet our next goal of securing our own kitchen space that we can customize and that will support growth to expand our training and product offerings.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes, we sell gift cards for you to spread the joy around! Gift cards are a great way to celebrate many of life's moments, big or small. You can stop into our shop to purchase a gift card in any amount, or you can also send an e-gift card online at any time. Cupcakes, coffee, tea, and other baked goods will make someone's day!

How do you support sustainability?

At Sarah Bellum's Bakery & Workshop, we are committed to social and environmental sustainability. To contribute to environmental sustainability, our clamshell containers are made of plant-based material, do not leach toxic chemicals, and quickly degrade in the trash (since clamshells are not currently recyclable or compostable in Portland). All of our cups, lids, straws, and utensils are biodegradable and non-toxic. We donate all "expired" baked goods to Urban Gleaners or food pantries for re-distribution to re-purpose them as they are still edible. We use low-energy light bulbs and conserve water. We compost food scraps and coffee grounds. We recycle containers. We have our own small sustainable, organic garden beds behind our bakery shop. All of our ingredients are organic, vegetarian, ethically sourced, and local where possible. In terms of social sustainability, our mission is to provide work opportunities for adults with acquired brain injury to engage in the community. Moving into our brick-and-mortar shop in Multnomah Village in SW Portland has allowed us to expand and sustain year-round opportunities for our participants and crew. We believe meaningful purpose is critical to thriving after brain injury, and are committed to continuing to provide this safe and supportive environment where adults with acquired brain injury can grow, learn, and thrive.