With all the effects of COVID-19, so much of the world has had to adapt to a new way of living. Whether you’ve lost your jobs, had to switch to working at home, or going to school online, we’ve all had to find new ways to stay busy and some of us have gotten really creative.
We’re finding new and exciting opportunities we didn’t know were available to us before. For one 19-year-old girl named Kristina in Fayetteville, North Carolina, when she had to stop volunteering at a local daycare she decided to start up her own business!
After having to stop volunteering at her local daycare, Kristina didn’t let boredom strike. Instead, she took action to follow her dreams.
But for Kristina’s parents, they worried about how life and society would treat her since Kristina was born with Down Syndrome. Kechia, Kristina’s mother, spoke about this to ABC11 saying,
“I come from a very strong family. Everybody was very accepting. We’re going to treat her like everyone else…Sometimes people treat you differently. I was worried about how she would be treated. Was she going to be accepted in school? Was she going to be accepted by people her age?”
Since stopping her volunteer work at the local daycare she’s opened Kristina’s Grinds and Grace outside a boutique in her local area. Kristina’s coffee cart offers a variation of coffee and light bites to go along with it.
Kristina’s dream of starting her own business was coming to life and her parents couldn’t be more thrilled.
As a mother, Kechia understands how every human being in life seeks to find their purpose and, when everything with the pandemic originally took away her daughter’s volunteer work, she was nervous Kristina would feel like something was missing if she couldn’t give back to her community anymore,
“Everybody wants to have a purpose in life, a meaningful life. Something they look forward to. Something where they feel like they’re giving back to the community.”
But for Kechia and her husband, their worries have been put to rest as Kristina’s Grinds and Grace has received overwhelming support from their local community.
Through her business, Kristina has been able to develop her conversation skills as her customer base grows each day.
Kristina’s mother is more than proud of her daughter and how her business has opened the workforce to others with disabilities. Kristina’s business has also helped her blossom from her shyness as she now deals with customers on a daily basis,
“She is very shy until she gets to know you. At that coffee cart, she has definitely blossomed.”
They’ve gotten so much support that they’ve decided to offer their own merchandise!
As Kristina’s Grinds and Grace business has only grown and received more support, they’ve started to make custom shirts, coaster sets, cups, and tumblers with her logo on it.
Support even poured in from a popular department store chain.
They’ve even received support from a popular American department store chain called Belk. From November 13th to November 15th you can select Kristina’s Grinds and Grace as your preferred charity. When you donate at least $5 to charity Belk will give you a $10 coupon to use during the charity sale with no brand exclusions.
But Kristina’s dream continues to grow as she one day hopes to turn her coffee cart into a full coffee shop and open the workforce to more people with disabilities.
Kristina’s dream is to one day turn her coffee cart into a full coffee shop. So far we’d say she’s off to a great start!
Kristina works her cart Monday through Friday and even offers Saturday hours as well. Talk about dedication!
For now, Kristina and her friend Victoria are available at her coffee cart from Monday through Friday 3:00 – 5:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Located at 817 Elm Street right in front of Lily Kats Consignment Boutique.
For those of us who have had to find a new daily routine, it hasn’t been easy but stories of those like Kristina who have started their own businesses and found new ways to continue daily living are an inspiration to all.
Learn more about this beautifully business-savvy young woman and how she’s giving back to her community in the video below.
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