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Roswell bakery struggling in the pandemic saved by generous online donations

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Cristy Kisner feels right at home when she’s following a recipe.

“I grew up with my mom in the kitchen. Baking, baking, and baking,” Cristy said.

When she and husband Sebastian moved their family from Lima, Peru to Roswell in the fall of 2019, they opened a little bakery -- Cristy’s Kitchen.

“When January came, we began to grow. Then February and we grew a little more. We were feeling more confident about it. Suddenly came the pandemic,” Sebastian said.

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They fell behind on the rent. There were hospital bills. It seemed all was lost.

But then, their story was told on a social media site based in New York City.

“I think people hear that story and think ‘hope.’ It gives people hope. It’s kind of like the American dream in action,” customer Chantelle Ward said.

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First came the constant line of customers, then an online fundraiser set up by a friend that has rocketed to well over $1 million dollars.

The couple has been too busy baking to make sense of it all.

“We haven’t had the time yet to sit down and realize what we have--or what we are going to do---because it’s been so fast,” Sebastian said.

Meantime Cristy, Sebastian, and their five daughters are just trying to keep up. They now sell out the whole store each and every day.

“No words to say how much we are grateful. Thank you. How much we love to be here. I have no words. When customers come I start to cry,” Cristy said.

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