Pastry chef baking for good cause

Mary Kropelnicki, a pastry chef who owns The Bakery Gallery in Yerington, and her staff travel to local farmers markets with delicious baked goods throughout the week. Each Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. you can find them at the Fernley Farmers Market.

The longtime Nevada resident and her husband moved to Yerington 10 years ago. The couple recently renovated a building at 215 West Garfield Ave., where The Bakery Gallery opened last year.

The Bakery Gallery staff bakes nights and packages days, which “is a lot of packaging,” said the chef. It operates on this schedule to meet the demand of numerous local farmers markets during the summer while maintaining stock at the store and catering events. For the Fernley Farmers Market alone, it takes 75-100 boxes of cookies to serve the customers on Thursdays. Available are a variety of cakes, cookies, dog treats and pies.

“Our goal is to sell a lot of cookies. We don’t do anything really complicated. When you open the box, the product is the same as it tasted yesterday or a year ago,” Kropelnicki said.

Kropelnicki expanded on her interest in bringing art to children who might not otherwise be exposed to it if not for donations and contributions.

“What I do allows me to contribute to the most important thing I am involved in — the Through a Child’s Eyes Foundation. I’m excited about keeping the foundation going because a lot of kids would not be able to participate without the support. It is the most important thing I am involved in. The Bakery Gallery allows me to do that.”

Through a Child’s Eyes Foundation is an organization that teaches dance to children. The Bakery Gallery will be selling boxes of 20 cookies with a portion of the proceeds going to help support the foundation. It’s also catering a tea Saturday at the Governor’s Mansion for the benefit of Through a Child’s Eyes Foundation.

The Fernley Farmers Market offers fresh produce, including Certified Organic fruits and vegetables, and handcrafted items by local artists and vendors. It operates through Aug. 13 in the Big R parking lot at 465 E. Main St.

For more information about The Bakery Gallery, follow it on Facebook, or call 775-463-4070. For more information about the Fernley Farmers Market, find it on Facebook, or email fernleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com, or call Market Manager Lisa Young at 775-287-2811.