It started with a question: What if we gave bread away for free? Not as a promotion. Not as content. Just because people in our neighborhood were struggling... and we had something to give. In just a few weeks, this little idea has grown faster than we ever imagined. What started with one loaf has already reached families all across City Heights, San Diego, and it’s only getting bigger.
Our founder, Giovanna, has baked sourdough for years - always for friends, family, and the joy of sharing something made by hand. But as food prices climbed and SNAP benefits were cut, the need in our City Heights community became impossible to ignore. So she baked a few loaves, posted a video, and offered them to anyone who needed one.
The response came fast. Within 48 hours, hundreds of messages came in. Some were from neighbors asking for help. Others offered to donate ingredients or time. One neighbor told us, ‘I haven’t had fresh bread in months.’ Another said this project 'made them feel seen'. All of them reminded us that something small and handmade can carry more weight than we realize.
She brought the loaves to our warehouse in City Heights. A few people came by. Then a few more. Someone lingered to chat. A kid asked if there might be two loaves that day. And slowly, this turned into something that felt bigger than bread.
And then something we didn’t expect happened. Word started spreading beyond our little corner of City Heights… and it reached the news.
🎥 NBC and Telemundo came out to hear the story.
They sat down with Giovanna, saw the loaves waiting to be picked up, and wanted to help share what this project is doing for our neighborhood.
It was a big moment for us, and honestly, a reminder that even small acts can ripple far.
👉 Watch the full story on NBC7
Each loaf is shaped by hand, baked at home, and shared with no strings attached. It’s not about quantity—it’s about connection, care, and showing up with what we have.
Same heart, new shape
At Lumily, everything we do is rooted in handmade care. We’ve spent years working with women artisans globally - each piece they create holds tradition, skill, and intention.
This bread project isn’t separate from that. It’s built from the same place.
✨ Made by hand
✨ Shared without judgment
✨ Meant to nourish - whether it’s your home, your body, or your spirit
What started with accessories is now growing into something more personal, more local, and just as full of heart. Whether it's a friendship bracelet or a loaf of sourdough, the point is the same: offer something real, something human, something that connects.
Donate to the bread project
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How you can support the bread project
This project stays alive because people show up, just like in the early days of Lumily. Every $5 literally turns into flour, and that flour becomes a loaf in someone’s hands the next day. Nothing sits. Nothing gets wasted. Everything goes straight back into the community. If it moves you, here are a few simple ways to help:
✨ Sponsor a bread drop (even $5 helps buy ingredients)
✨ Donate supplies (flour, kitchen gear, or packaging materials)
✨ Share this blog on your socials to help it reach someone who needs it
✨ Tell a neighbor in San Diego or City Heights who could use a loaf
✨ Connect us with local orgs or nonprofits who want to collaborate
We want this project to continue for years to come. Our dream is to turn this into a long-term staple in City Heights, not a seasonal effort or a trend, but a steady source of comfort and connection.
📸 Follow us on Instagram or TikTok for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes moments
This is who we are
We never imagined baking bread would become part of our story. But we also never imagined just how much impact a small, handmade gesture could hold. Every loaf shared, every conversation during pickup, every moment of connection, it’s reminded us what really matters.
Different hands. Same heart. And always, enough to share. Thank you for being here. Whether you donate, share, or simply read this - you’re part of this bread family now.
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