A North Okanagan businesswoman is in desperate need of the community鈥檚 help.

Crystal Hedlund owns and operates Crystal鈥檚 Baked Blessings, which is a bakery business that has been located in Vernon, the Shuswap and the small town of Canoe over almost a decade.

Hedlund has been helping out the 鈥渓owest of low-income鈥� people and families in the Okanagan and Shuswap for the past five years. She is also a mother to eight children. At least once a month, she donates a custom cake to a low income family that can鈥檛 afford it.

In July of 2023, Hedlund lost her family van. 鈥淭hen, in September I had mechanical issues with my summer car, including several flat tires,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 had an amazing woman donate an SUV to me in December. This lady let me know that she wasn鈥檛 sure what kind of mechanical shape the SUV was in, but she knew it did run.鈥�

However, the SUV was in bad need of repairs and it has caused Hedlund to be stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of deliveries.

鈥淏less her heart because I know she meant well, but the feeling of being stranded on the highway with not only my deliveries but with my kiddos in the winter (let alone any other time of year) is incredibly nerve-wracking and scary. I haven鈥檛 been without a solid reliable vehicle ever in the past 28 years of driving. So this is completely new territory for me.鈥�

Due to the precariousness of her transportation, Hedlund was prepared to say goodbye to the business.

鈥淚 was unsure how I was going to nourish the need to help people, all the while being able to provide, support, and be there for my kiddos whenever they needed me,鈥� she explained. 鈥淗ow would I be able to make it to work if I don鈥檛 have child care and a vehicle?鈥�

Now, she has enlisted the help of the North Okanagan and Shuswap community in raising funds for a reliable vehicle.

鈥淚f we work together like the amazing community we are, we can move mountains for those who need it most. Thank you all for your support, your love, your time, and your consideration.鈥�

Hedlund鈥檚 GoFundMe can be found at , the goal is currently set at $5,000. If you are interested in donating directly, you can do so by emailing crystalsbakedblessings@gmail.com.

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