As I was researching small redemptive businesses in Pennsylvania, I came across a company that I remember visiting with my friend in Wellsboro. At my first glance, Highland Chocolates seemed to be an ordinary business selling handcrafted chocolates. But after looking deeper, I realized this company was a redemptive business that was quietly changing the lives, including of one of my own friends.
This company began in 1994 as a small endeavor inspired by Scottish chocolatiers. What started for the love of chocolates slowly grew into something much greater. It eventually evolved into a nonprofit with a meaningful purpose. The purpose was to empower those with disabilities intellectually, physically, or emotionally by offering real work, lasting dignity, and vocational training. They have 20 employees with disabilities on staff and many that worked for them in the past. They turned a small chocolate company into a company with a mission to love and support those in their community. Highland Chocolates is small in staff but has a huge impact on local culture and community.
Highland Chocolates not only trains and teaches meaningful life skills to its workers, but also reinvests its proceeds back into the program. Every bag of chocolate-covered pretzels or box of truffles helps sustain employment and training opportunities. This little chocolate company empowers people often overlooked through a simple product that everyone loves. The small town of Wellsboro, it offers every community member the opportunity to help the community. Rather than channeling profits to private gain, it is used to transform lives and the community.
For the small town of Wellsboro, this impact is truly significant. It reminds the community that business is more than a monetary transaction, but rather restoration. Looking back on when I visited Wellsboro, I now see it differently. What seemed like a small business selling sweets was actually a look into a truly redemptive business.
check them out: https://www.highlandchocolates.org
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I like how you touch on how the business is making an impact in the community. Sometimes, it takes these smaller family businesses in the community to make the most impact and to show the most love to outsiders and locals.
Wow! Such a cool idea for a redemptive business. It really goes to show that even the most ordinary of businesses can be used to better a community. I especially liked your point that every purchase becomes participation. It helps sustain meaningful work and vocational training. Instead of profit being the end goal, it becomes a tool for restoration.