TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — She's an award-winning baker, a chocolatier, a Navy veteran, and one of the most inventive culinary talents in Tampa Bay.
Hayley Johnson, owner of the Baking Soldier in Tarpon Springs, will be a popular stop for locals and tourists alike during the annual Epiphany celebration.
WATCH: The Baking Soldier in Tarpon Springs is a sweet way to celebrate Epiphany
She'll be giving away free bottles of water to revelers and selling white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate crosses.
"Epiphany is one of the things I love best about Tarpon Springs," she says. "I'm paying homage to the Greek community. This is their celebration, and I'm their neighbor."
Right across the street from the famous St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Hayley's sweet shop also excels at key lime pies, in-demand delights that find their way onto family tables and local restaurant tables.
"At Thanksgiving, my pies were in how many people's homes?" she says. "That's just an amazing feeling."
Like a lot of us, Hayley's life has been filled with challenging moments, including homelessness and abusive relationships. But baking has always been a safe haven, and she'd like to turn her success into a means of helping others.
After leaving the military, Hayley had trouble finding resources to help her and her family. So she's starting a female veterans association for those in need. "That's why I'm doing all of this," she says.
For more delicious Sean Daly stories, follow Sean on Instagram at @seandalytv.
For more on the Baking Soldier — and to order a key lime pie — go here.
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Sean Daly calls himself Tampa Bay 28’s "resident big kid". He puts his boundless energy into sharing stories about people doing good, things for you to do, and of course, theme parks. If you have an idea for Sean’s next adventure or "Daly Discovery", send him a message.
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