Some businesses start with a business plan. Alana Crooks started with a mixing bowl and a neighbor in need.
What began as a small cottage-law bakery run out of her Grand Rapids home became something she never fully planned for. As Alana sold baked goods at porch pop-ups and through custom orders, she started noticing how many families around her were quietly struggling. So she did what felt natural. She used the money from her sales to buy groceries, diapers, hygiene products, pet food, and emergency supplies for local families who needed help but were not asking for it.
A few grocery bags became a movement. And in March 2026, The Salty Mama It Takes a Village Project Inc. became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Kent County.
From Baked Goods to a Full Village
The name says everything about the mission. Alana, a mom of four, built this organization around a simple belief: communities are supposed to take care of each other. Every dollar earned through baking or donated by supporters goes directly back into helping local families. No overhead fluff. No bureaucracy. Just neighbors helping neighbors.
Today The Salty Mama offers what they call “village bags” packed with groceries, hygiene essentials, and household necessities. They also provide emergency assistance, pantry support, period kits, coffee kits, pet support, and community donations reaching families across all of Kent County. In a single month, they helped more than 75 families with full grocery sets.
That number is only going to grow. Alana and her team are currently working toward securing a physical space, which she believes will dramatically increase how many families they can serve each month.
A Story That Became Theirs Together
Alana is quick to point out that The Salty Mama is not just her story anymore. It belongs to every person who has donated, volunteered, spread the word, or shown up for a family in need. It is a team effort built on community support, creativity, and what she describes simply as a lot of heart.
“Our mission is simple,” Alana says. “Make sure families feel seen, supported, and less alone during hard times.”
She keeps showing up every single day for what she calls “the villagers,” driven by the stories she hears from the families they serve. The Salty Mama is proof that something as small as a homemade baked good can grow into a real movement when people decide to become a village for one another.
How You Can Support The Salty Mama
Whether you want to donate, volunteer, or simply help spread the word about the work being done in Kent County, The Salty Mama welcomes you into the village. Follow them on Facebook to stay connected and find out how to get involved.
The Salty Mama It Takes a Village Project Inc.
Grand Rapids, Michigan | Kent County
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
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