Yep, the subject line didn't lie. We are in the beginning stages of opening a bakery/ministry space for victims of human trafficking!

As many of you know, we've spent the last almost two years fighting human trafficking in Grand Rapids and Traverse City, MI. We've laughed with women, cried with women, and we've simply done life with them. We have loved every single moment God has given us in this ministry!

And, we are growing. We feel as though God is telling us that it is time to move. So, we're praying like everything depends on Him and acting like everything depends on us.

Here's the plan. We want to buy a house in a central part of Grand Rapids. Our plan is to eventually turn the downstairs into a commercial kitchen with a bakery front and seating for customers just like you! We want to continue to sell our delicious cupcakes in this space.

The upstairs rooms will be transformed into offices and ministry space. This will provide us a place to equip our current outreach teams and start a Backpage ministry.

For those of you who don't know about Backpage, it's a website where traffickers sell women and young girls, over and over again. On average, there are 200 women being bought and sold every single night - and that's just in Grand Rapids. This bakery will allow us space to provide support for the women who decide to accept the help we offer. We want to do all we can to provide the girls we serve - whether off Backpage or through strip club outreach - with resources they need to get back on their feet.

We hope to eventually hold Bible studies for men dealing with pornography addictions, as well. The ultimate goal will be to employ rescued women at the bakery.  

We hope to hold awareness events for the community in both Traverse City and Grand Rapids as we expand, getting the word out about this injustice. We will hold events for women in the industry - fun days where they can come to our space (or a rented space in Traverse City), and get resume help, enjoy a well-deserved spa day, have a movie night, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Part of this process includes us becoming non-profit, meaning we will finally be able to accept tax-deductible donations as a registered 501(c)(3). To abide by various legal procedures, we will be STOPPING ALL NEW ORDERS beginning OCTOBER 1, 2015. The next time we will be selling cupcakes after this date depends on when we open the bakery. 

Here's where you come in. We can't do this alone. The reality is that it will take a village to end human trafficking. 

 So, we've created a fundraiser called 450 squares. 

As you can see, there are just that: 450 squares. Each square is worth an amount between $1 and $450. Once a square is purchased, no one else can buy that square. This fundraiser, when completed, will bring in $101,275 for us, which will cover all of our start-up costs, including the down payment on the house. 

When you give any amount between $1 and $450, we have different perks and prizes for you. You can check those out at the end of this shout out.  

All you have to do is email us at newcreationcupcakes@gmail.com with the amount you want to give, along with your first and last name, and we will send you a direct link where you can donate your amount. As the boxes are purchased, we will cross them off on the poster so we can keep track of what's available. We will keep updating you as the boxes are crossed off.

There are different ways to tackle this fundraiser. Grab a few friends and purchase the $302 square. Partner with your roommate to purchase the $50 square. Have your office sponsor the $149 square. Go ahead and buy two squares! How these funds come in doesn't matter, it's the life change that will happen within the walls of this space that will make every penny of our sacrifices worth it. 

We plan to display this poster in the bakery so that all will know that 450 brave abolitionists provided a safe haven for beautiful young women in West Michigan.  

If you can't personally give, that's okay! We still need you! First of all, we need prayer warriors in both cities who will pray the funds in - in God's perfect timing. We need prayer for the beautiful women we work with - that their hearts would continue to be open to our help. 

We will also need volunteers in the coming months. If you or someone you know has a certain skill that you think would help us during this process, we would love to hear from you! We'll need painters, carpenters, event planners, counselors, medical professionals and more as we begin to build a database of those who are interested in helping us end human trafficking in both Grand Rapids and Traverse City. 

So again, if you feel led to give, email us the amount, along with your first and last name, and we will give you the direct link, and cross your square off! Plus, we've got some pretty great prizes for those of you who do decide to give. Hurry before your box is taken! 

Here are the prizes:

$1-$20 - handwritten thank you note, Facebook shout out

$21-$50 - Thank you, shout out, NCC wristband

$51-$100 - Thank you, shout out, NCC magnet, NCC wristband

$101-$150 - Thank you, shout out, coupon for 2 free cupcakes when we open

$151-$200 - Thank you, shout out, coupon for free half dozen when we open

$201-$300 - Thank you, shout out, VIP Event

$301-$350 - Thank you, shout out, VIP Event, coupon for a free drink when open

$351-$400 - Thank you, shout out, VIP Event, You and two friends are invited to bake with us for a day when we open. You'll even get a few cupcakes to take home with you! 

$401-$450 - Thank you, shout out, VIP Event, design a cupcake flavor we'll feature in our bakery for a week

What's this VIP event, you ask? We are going to host an all-day open house a few weeks before we officially open for YOU! This will be a time where you can tour the building, hear our hearts behind our ministry, eat free cupcakes and hear live music. You will get an invite in the weeks leading up to the event. 

God has big plans for this project and we're so glad that we get to do this alongside you. Together, we can provide a safe haven for women and men who need to be reminded of their worth and value. That's a powerful thing. 

Join us as we take our next steps on this journey to ending human trafficking - one cupcake at a time. 

Our BRAND NEW Logo for NCC!! We absolutely love it! Our designer, Jeremy, did SUCH an amazing job!!!!