From selling newspapers in the US, Baucom now sells mandazi in Siaya Town
Mr Terry Dean Baucom selling cakes to Siaya residents. He says his job of selling snacks helps cater for his family needs and contribute to charity. PHOTO | NELCON ODHIAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Baucom said that in a good day he makes Sh2, 000 and contributes Sh500 to the New Covenant Outreach World Church situated along Siaya-Ndere road which is tasked with managing the funds.
- "I donate Sh300 to 500 daily for charity to the church depending on the sales," says Mr Baucom.
- He says that the help from his two daughters and wife especially during the weekdays has helped increase the income as they are able to reach more customers.
Mr Terry Dean Baucom used to sell newspapers on the streets of Michigan in the United States of America nine years ago.
Now, thousands of miles away, this passionate 49-year-old sells mandazi on the streets of Siaya Town in central Nyanza in Kenya.
For five days in a week, Mr Baucom is on his bike carrying a transparent bucket full of hot cakes and popcorn.
Each cake goes for Sh10 while a packet of popcorn goes for Sh20.
When Nation.co.ke meets him for the interview, Mr Baucom had sold half of his bucket and it was only midday.
Since landing in Siaya in August 2014 with his wife and three daughters who help him in making the cakes and mandazi, the soft-spoken man has learnt the local dialect and can speak a few words, albeit with much difficulty.
“Amosi (How are you?)” he says when we stop him for the interview.
He resides at Banana estate on the outskirts of Siaya Town.
RAISE FUNDS FOR CAHRITY
He says that he ventured into the trade of hawking the snacks as a way of luring Siaya residents into spiritual life as well as to raise funds for charity.
He supplies mandazi, cupcakes and locally made popcorns to supermarkets and other retail shops in the town.
The cakes are in seven different flavours which include banana, peanut and vanilla flavours which have unique tastes and liked by many customers.
"I took up this job because the less privileged people in the society were neglected by the rich, besides being despised by many," says Mr Baucom.
He does this, he says, to support the less fortunate in his New Covenant Outreach World Church which has its roots in the USA.
He says the locals were shocked at seeing an American do such business but the thought of helping the less fortunate keeps him going.
Using his bicycle, Baucom sells cakes and mandazi in Siaya Town. He also distributes them to supermarkets and retail shops. PHOTO | NELCON ODHIAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
ENOUGH FOR FAMILY NEEDS
"Despite the job not being so well-paying, I get enough money to meet my family needs as well as invest in the livelihoods of the less unfortunate in the society," says Mr Baucom.
As he sells the snacks, he also preaches the gospel to his customers.
"As a Christian, it is important to be kind at heart.
"I am using my business to empower the church to support the less fortunate and sponsor the education of orphans and vulnerable people in Siaya Town."
Mr Baucom said that in a good day he makes Sh2, 000 and contributes Sh500 to the New Covenant Outreach World Church situated along Siaya-Ndere road which is tasked with managing the funds.
"I donate Sh300 to 500 daily for charity to the church depending on the sales," says Mr Baucom.
He says that the help from his two daughters and wife especially during the weekdays has helped increase the income as they are able to reach more customers.
VISITING THE SICK AND PRISONERS
On weekends, they are engaged in spiritual activities. They visits Siaya Prison and Siaya County Referral Hospital and other hospitals to pray for the prisoners and the sick.
Mr Baucom was born in Michigan in the US, and moved to the Philippines in 1997 after quitting his job as a newspaper vendor.
In the Philippines, he worked as a volunteer where, he says, he was motivated to start selling cakes after one of his daughters mobilised her friends at school to start making cakes for sale as a way of raising funds to help the old and poor in their neighbourhood.
"My daughter started selling bread and cookies in the neighbourhood and channelled the proceeds to supporting the needy and other development programmes supported by the church," said Mr Baucom.
He joined the New Covenant Outreach World Church in 2009 and was later sent to Kenya in August 2014.
Mr Baucom says he is contemplating setting up a bakery in order to cater for the increasing demand of his many customers, majority of whom are students.
He has appealed to well-wishers and NGOs to support his initiative in order to provide job opportunities to the local youth.
He challenged the clergy in local churches to engage in various business ventures instead of depending on offerings from their faithful.
He, however, says that he has faced challenges while doing his business, which include language barrier and mockery from the public who do not understand what he does and why.
He has vowed not give up in his quest for an improved society.
