Story & Lesson Highlights with Erin Stieglitz

We recently had the chance to connect with Erin Stieglitz and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Erin, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Within the first 90 minutes of my day, I’ve usually worn many of my life’s hats. I wake up at 5:30/6 a.m. to exercise. As I’m getting my kids ready for school I am doing some sort of housekeeping or food prep. On our way to school I am either breaking up brotherly fights or trying to have meaningful parenting moments with my kids, Right after carpool I start my Bagel Rescue work, often doing a pickup and delivery nearby.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Erin Stieglitz, Founder, Executive Director, and Chief Rescue Officer of Bagel Rescue. We are a nonprofit food rescue for bagels, breads, and pastries that takes these surplus items and donates them to feeding programs including shelters, food pantries, youth programs, senior apartments, street outreach efforts, and more. The organization started after a chance discovery of bagel waste and has blossomed into a robust, grassroots nonprofit serving 150 agencies in 12 counties of metro Atlanta and 6 cities outside of Atlanta.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was young, I was a very good swimmer thanks to my mom who put me in an infant swim rescue program when I was two. I actually hated it but became a strong swimmer. I swam on my summer league team and qualified to go to the regional championship meet. Backstroke was my jam. I had an innovative coach who taught me a new backstroke start that had me starting holding onto the top of the block with only my heels in the water. This “standup start” was legal and gave me more momentum to push off and gain distance as I entered the race. It was gutsy, people definitely thought I was weird, but it worked. I felt very powerful that I had the inner strength to take the risk.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I don’t know if I almost gave up but I have definitely reached points in Bagel Rescue that were a struggle. In hindsight, I realize they could have been moments that made me quit but I wasn’t willing to let the hurdles bring me down. And of course afterwards you’re always glad you didn’t.

When I started Bagel Rescue I really just thought I was going to be a person who would pickup and deliver food. Now I laugh at that very simple forecast of my future. I still do pickup and deliver food (which I love!) but that’s only a small part of what I do.

Starting a nonprofit is no joke! There were so many things I didn’t know – like almost everything – that I had to learn along the way. The journey has been one step at a time, trial and error, and I’ve sought a lot of help, especially in areas where I do not have natural talent. I feel fortunate that I could grow the operation with the support I received.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that I really care about my own family and friends, and feeding people!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Into the Woods is one of my favorite musicals because 1) I love fairytales and 2) I think the moral of “be careful what you wish for, it may actually come true” is so relevant.

I think there are so many quests that are unsatisfying even when we achieve what we perceive to be the ultimate destination. Or worse, when we achieve them, the goal moves and we have to aim even higher for no great purpose. For me I feel like some of my youth was wasted on superficial goals or aiming for a career path that was not the right fit for me.

I also believe the universe sometimes prevents you from making certain mistakes that would be unsatisfying. I didn’t get accepted to my top choice of colleges. I ended up at Emory University that started my life in Atlanta where I met my amazing husband that led to my two beautiful children. That was meant to be and the universe made it happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bagelrescue.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bagel.rescue/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bagel-rescue/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BagelRescue/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BagelRescue