Hello, my name is Marcus Coffman owner of Mamaws Bread and Farm Stand in Oak Ridge Tn and i am trying to:

Defend Tennessee Food Freedom for Everyone Not Just Me

I’m raising funds to challenge the City of Oak Ridge’s attempt to use zoning laws to prohibit the sale of homemade food from one’s own property something the Tennessee Food Freedom Act was specifically designed to protect.

This fight is bigger than my stand. It affects:

• Single parents trying to earn extra income without paying for childcare or transportation

• Disabled residents who cannot easily travel to events or markets

• Low‑income families who rely on home‑based food sales to make ends meet

• Elderly Tennesseans who bake, can, or cook from home to supplement fixed incomes

• Anyone who wants to participate in the local economy from their own kitchen

The Food Freedom Act was passed to uplift all Tennesseans not just those with the means to rent commercial space or travel to events. It was meant to remove barriers, not create new ones.

But right now, Oak Ridge is using zoning to do exactly what the state law was written to prevent: shutting down home‑based food producers.

Why This Matters

If a city can use zoning to override a state protected right, then the Food Freedom Act becomes meaningless. And the people who suffer most are the ones with the least resources:

• A single mom who can’t afford a storefront

• A disabled veteran who can’t load equipment into a car

• A caregiver who needs to work from home

• A family trying to build a small business one jar, loaf, or cookie at a time

This isn’t just about baked goods. It’s about economic freedom, equal opportunity, and the right to earn an honest living from home.

What the Funds Will Support

I now have an attorney willing to take this case, but the retainer to begin the work is $5,000. These funds will go toward:

• Legal representation

• Filing fees

• Research and documentation

• Any necessary court actions to clarify and protect the rights granted under state law

This is not a political fight. It’s a fairness fight.

Why I’m Asking for Help

I’ve been baking cookies to raise the funds, but reaching $5,000 through cookie sales alone will take time and the city’s actions are already affecting my ability to operate. This GoFundMe allows people who believe in fairness, food freedom, and small‑business rights to stand with me.

How You Can Help

• Donate if you’re able

• Share this fundraiser with others

• Support home‑based food producers in your community

Every contribution, large or small, helps protect a right that belongs to all Tennesseans.

Thank you for standing with me in this fight for fairness, freedom, and the future of home‑based food businesses across our state.