A Day of Giving Back: Our Donation to Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair, NJ
There’s something truly powerful about giving back — not just in what it does for others, but in how it opens your heart, grounds you, and reminds you of the small blessings we often overlook. This week, my sister and I took a trip to Sam’s Club with one goal in mind: to support Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair, New Jersey. By the time we reached the checkout line, we had two full shopping carts overflowing with non-perishable goods, hygiene products, and everyday essentials.
As we shopped, we talked about how easy it is to forget the things we consider “small”: waking up in the morning, having food to eat, being able to give. It hit us how lucky we are — and how meaningful it is to use that privilege to help someone else.
When we got home, the giving didn’t stop. I baked nearly 90 brown butter chocolate chip cookies (you know I had to add a little sweetness!) to donate alongside the groceries. Baking has always been my first love, and it’s the heartbeat of my nonprofit, We Bake a Change — a mission built on bringing comfort, joy, and dignity to people through something as simple and universal as dessert.
About Toni’s Kitchen — Its Roots and the Woman Behind the Mission
Toni’s Kitchen was founded in 1982, born out of a group of parishioners at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair. Their simple — but deeply compassionate — mission: “serve our neighbors in need.”
To lead the kitchen, they turned to Antoinette “Toni” Green, known to many simply as Toni. Originally the cook at the church’s daycare center, she accepted the role of head cook for the new ministry, lending her warmth and spirit to the project from day one.
Toni wasn’t just cooking — she was helping build a foundation of dignity and care. People arriving for a meal were welcomed as guests, served restaurant-style, not lined up or rushed. That approach — rooted in kindness — set the tone for what Toni’s Kitchen would become.
Though Toni has since passed, her legacy lives on in every meal, every outreach, and every volunteer who steps into that space. Today, Toni’s Kitchen has grown far beyond its humble beginnings.
What Toni’s Kitchen Does Today
Toni’s Kitchen is no longer just a soup kitchen. Over decades, it has evolved into a comprehensive community support hub offering:
Nutritious meals served with dignity
Grocery distribution for individuals and families
Meal deliveries to homebound seniors
Wellness and community programs
Partnerships that allow them to reach thousands of neighbors in need
From a small kitchen in 1982 to a community institution, Toni’s Kitchen continues to honor Toni Green’s vision: helping neighbors in need, with respect, compassion, and heart.
Why We Give — and Why It Matters
This wasn’t just a shopping trip or a cookie drop-off. It was a reminder of why We Bake a Change exists — to uplift those who need it most, to step into our communities with kindness, and to use our creativity and passion to make someone’s day a little brighter.
Giving back is never one-sided. You leave lighter, fuller, more grateful. My sister and I drove home feeling inspired, thankful, and even more committed to the work we’re doing.
A Sweet Reminder
If you’re reading this, I encourage you to find one small way to give back this week — whether it’s donating food, volunteering your time, or simply checking in on someone who could use support. Kindness truly builds community.
Thank you again to Toni’s Kitchen — and thank you to everyone who supports We Bake a Change, whether by sharing our posts, donating, or cheering from the sidelines. This is only the beginning.
Let’s keep baking a change, one act of kindness at a time.
