Where It All Started

Try Pie launched in 2014 to give high school girls hands-on, paid work experience in a safe and supportive environment. It started in a church kitchen and quickly grew into a storefront bakery in downtown Waterloo. Today, teens from across the community show up after school to run the business. From rolling dough to handling customer service and finances.

“Entry-level responsibilities naturally develop habits like problem solving, teamwork, communication, customer service. As a nonprofit whose funding is a mix of sales, grants and donations, we can offer work that builds these basic skills and prioritize the growth of teens we employ over profit. Add in intentional instruction and real responsibility to a first job, and that foundational experience becomes transformative.” — Sarah Helleso, Director at Try Pie

Each teen learns how to manage time, communicate with coworkers, and build confidence through everyday responsibilities. The goal is to equip them with skills they can carry into adulthood, regardless of where they go next.

A Bakery with a Bigger Mission

Try Pie offers job training for high school girls, but the experience goes far beyond baking. Through the program, teens participate in financial literacy workshops, personal development sessions, and mentorship meetings. Staff guide them through budgeting, conflict resolution, and the ins and outs of being part of a workplace team.

The bakery is designed to give young women the tools they need to succeed. They leave the program with a paycheck, a resume, and a better understanding of their strengths and potential.

“At Try Pie I’ve become a leader. I was able to slowly build up my confidence and get help when I needed it. I enjoy being shift lead now in the kitchen and leading to get stuff done!” — East high, 10th grader