Erika Rybinski, founder of Pastry and the Piano. (Erika Rybinski/Submitted)

By Mia Holowaychuk, CKOM News Staff

Humboldt teacher gives back to her community through the art of baking

Nov 15, 2022 | 1:55 PM

Humboldt teacher Erika Rybinski is using her passion for baking to give back to her community.

So far, she has raised thousands of dollars for local charities as the mastermind behind the non-profit organization Pastry and the Piano.

Rybinski said she didn’t know what to expect when she started back in 2020.

“The initiative for me has always been charity,” she said.

Initially, sales were slow, but over the last two years she has raised almost $20,000.

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Her first fundraiser was for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Saskatoon. Since then, the baker said she’s amazed and thankful to see growth in her project.

When it comes to selecting a charity, Rybinski said she takes suggestions from her community, watches the news and even reaches out to former students or co-workers who may be going through difficult times.

It’s no surprise Rybinski’s baking overtakes her kitchen. She uses her single oven to produce thousands of goods such as cookies and squares for just one fundraiser alone.

“It is time-consuming, but there isn’t any other way I’d like to spend time in a charitable way,” she said.

Her last fundraiser on Saturday was a Christmas baking tray, which contains 30 pieces of homemade goodies. She received 83 orders and had to close the sale within hours due to the high volume.

Rybinski said she’s thankful and amazed at the mass support she receives from customers, family and her spouse.

When it comes to expanding her operation, she says she’s content with her small setup, but a second oven would be a dream come true.

Some of her best-sellers going into the Christmas season are butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, ginger snaps, and sugar and shortbread cookies.

Before Pastry and the Piano, the teacher found joy in giving her baking to others. She said seeing that special twinkle in people’s eyes when receiving them motivated her to do more.

The inspiration comes from her grandmother, with whom Rybinski had a special connection. She recalls learning the family baking secrets one summer by making pies with her grandmother.

“I think the sentimentality of that experience is kind of what instilled a love for baking in my heart.” Rybinski said.

The name Pastry and the Piano derives from her love of two forms of art: Baking and music. Rybinski is a music teacher at Humboldt Collegiate Institute and has a master’s degree in the subject.

She’s currently doing a fundraiser for a 14-year-old girl in Melfort who is battling leukemia. All of the proceeds from Rybinski’s sales go to the recipients, whether it’s an individual, a family or an organization.

She relies solely on donations for groceries and supplies, which can be donated through cash or e-transfer to pastryandthepiano@gmail.com.

More information about Pastry and the Piano can be found on Facebook or Instagram.