While the months leading up to the holidays are often spent hunting for the perfect gift and gathering supplies for the perfect meal, the holidays are also the perfect time to give back to the community. Thankfully, in Gwinnett, you can shop for the holidays and give back all in the same shopping trip. In such a busy community, there are awesome opportunities to support local small businesses who make a concerted effort to support areas of need in our community. We encourage you to do the same. Do good, feel good and check a box on your shopping list!
Sweets and Special Employees
Tis the season to eat sweets. Special Kneads and Treats makes everything extra special thanks to their talented bakers with unique abilities.
Special Kneads and Treats is a nonprofit organization serving specialty goods in Lawrenceville, GA, and focused on providing special needs adults within the community a place to learn new skills and develop a sense of accountability and pride.
While cakes and cupcakes are their primary focus, they also make various other baked goods such as cheesecakes, cake-pops, cookies and a delicious Choc-Corn (their signature sweet & salty white chocolate covered puffed corn). To keep things fresh and new, every month they create eight brand new, seasonal cupcake flavors in addition to their tried and true 18 regular flavors. Check out their latest flavors on their website!
While you’re picking up desserts for holiday dinners, consider sponsoring their Cakes for Kiddos program. For as little as $9, a tremendous difference can be made in the life of a child, special needs individual or elderly person.
www.specialkneadsandtreats.org
Sip & Shop for a Cause
Grace Upon Grace is a Gwinnett-based organization that works with several small businesses to support their mission of finding resources and opportunities for adults with special needs. On November 6th, they will host their 3rd Annual Sip & Shop for a Cause event, which hosts over 30 shops that employ individuals with unique abilities. You’ll be able to spot them showcasing their abilities as excellent customer service representatives at the event. Each business will donate a portion of their proceeds to nonprofit organizations that work to provide resources for families of those with disabilities.
One of the businesses Grace Upon Grace partners with is Aqua Terra, in Buford, which “works directly with Buford City Schools in their community based instruction classes and hires their students in the restaurant,” according to Maria Sharett, CEO of Grace Upon Grace. Other businesses that directly support the nonprofit’s mission on a regular basis are Cheeseboard and Thangs which donates a portion of proceeds every other month and OhSweet Bakery which donated 10% of their earnings last month.