Building Belonging: How WMED Helped Launch Everyone Happier and Healthier & Sweet Salvation Bakery

For mission-driven organizations in the White Mountains, the early stages of building a nonprofit can feel daunting. From legal formation to financial planning to program development, the path from vision to impact is filled with complex steps. That’s exactly why the White Mountain Economic Development (WMED) team works closely with emerging founders—to help them navigate the operational challenges that stand between community needs and meaningful, sustainable solutions.

Anna Merrill and the team at Sweet Salvation Bakery

One of the newest success stories supported through WMED’s business development mentorship is Everyone Happier and Healthier – A Belonging Initiative, founded by Anna Merrill. The organization’s flagship program, Sweet Salvation Bakery, uses baking as a pathway to inclusive employment, vocational training, confidence building, and true community belonging for individuals with disabilities and special needs.

WMED President & CEO Donald Laughlin says Anna’s vision represents the kind of impact-driven entrepreneurship WMED is proud to champion.

“Anna’s dedication to creating a place where people of all abilities can learn, work, and thrive is truly inspiring. WMED is honored to support nonprofits like hers that bring long-term value to families, youth, and the broader community.”

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A Vision Born from Lived Experience

The seeds of the nonprofit were planted years ago through Anna’s personal journey raising children with disabilities and coaching athletes with special needs. She and her family repeatedly asked the same difficult question: What happens when school ends? What opportunities exist for adults with disabilities to find purposeful work, connection, and dignity?

“We saw a major gap in safe, dignified employment, social connection, and purpose-driven opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” she explained. “Sweet Salvation Bakery and Everyone Happier and Healthier were created to meet that need with love, structure, and real-world skill building.

With pillars rooted in nutrition, movement, connection, and resilience, Anna began shaping a community-centered model combining baking, art, wellness, sports, movement, teamwork, and mentorship. The nonprofit formalized in 2024–2025, just as Sweet Salvation Bakery began serving as both a training site and a hub of inclusive community activity.

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Turning a Vision Into a Real Organization—with WMED's Help

Even with a clear mission, the technical steps of launching a nonprofit were overwhelming. Anna quickly learned that passion alone doesn’t build systems, budgets, or compliance structures. That’s when she connected with WMED’s business development team. WMED provided guidance across several key areas:

• Legal formation requirements

• Financial planning and sustainability

• Organizational structure

• Operational systems

• Community partnership strategies

Anna says the support came at exactly the right time.

“The instruction was incredibly helpful, encouraging, and practical. What stood out most was that WMED truly understands rural business challenges and meets entrepreneurs exactly where they are,” she added.

Through WMED’s mentorship, her dream became real, organized, and positioned for long-term growth.

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Milestones, Momentum, and the Road Ahead

In a remarkably short period of time, Everyone Happier and Healthier has made a tangible economic and community impact—most notably by creating 20 jobs, expanding meaningful employment opportunities for individuals who often face barriers to work.

Sweet Salvation Bakery is located in Snowflake, Arizona

Alongside this milestone, the organization has achieved several important accomplishments that continue to fuel its growth:

• Application submitted as official nonprofit and receipt of Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• Launch of Sweet Salvation Bakery as a training and volunteer site

• Partnerships with Special Olympics Unified and Unified Lobos

• Growing donor support and community fundraisers

• Waitlists forming for upcoming programs

The next year includes ambitious goals: expanding bakery training, increasing volunteer and employment opportunities, launching additional therapeutic programs, growing partnerships, and laying the groundwork for future supportive housing.

With momentum growing and community backing strong, Anna’s impact is only beginning. Through passion, resilience, and the practical support of WMED, she is building a place where everyone—truly everyone—can feel valued, capable, and connected.

These programs are supported through a grant from Local First Arizona and the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network. Learn more about Anna’s mission at www.Merrillbudz.org. If you’re interested in receiving entrepreneurial support from WMED, visit wmedev.org.