Lindstrom Bakery treating 2020 seniors with cupcakes and a card

There’s so many things that the Class of 2020 seniors are missing out on: prom, graduation, last day celebrations, even large graduation parties.

But, one thing they won’t miss out on is the sweet, sweet sugary treats of the Lindstrom Bakery. That’s because Bernie Coulombe, longtime owner of the bakery, is giving away a free cupcake and a card of congratulations to every 2020 senior in the Chisago Lakes High School class. All 256 of them.

Coulombe, who grew up in Stacy and now lives in downtown Lindstrom just a stone’s throw away from her bakery that she’s owned for 47 years, felt so bad for this class of seniors. “I was just thinking about how to help. All of these kids are missing out on this important stuff and I thought ‘that’s just terrible’ so I decided the least I can do is make them cupcakes.”

The bakery will be open to the seniors from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, May 30. At that time, 2020 seniors can go to the bakery and Coulombe will have a white cupcake, adorned with green and gold frosting for them, as well as a special card. She has a class list and the seniors will only be required to give their name and then provide a signature next to their name to get the cupcake and card.

“I look back and I’d guess almost all of these seniors, or their parents, have stopped in the bakery at one time or another and supported me, so I want to support them,” Coulombe said.

Coulombe’s mom was a teacher and her husband Don, who owned the bakery with her before he passed away, was a Shriner who was very philanthropic, so for Coulombe, doing this for the seniors only felt natural and like the right thing to do.

“It’s a cupcake, but owning a bakery is my dream and I want the seniors to follow their dreams. That’s how I live my life and things happen for a reason,” Coulombe said. “Things always happen for a reason. There’s some ups and some downs, but there’s always good to be found in every situation.”