I am featuring some of the amazing places that make living in the Toledo area unlike any other!  I am crazy about Toledo and I want to uncover for you some hidden gems you may not know about!  Georgettes's Grounds and Gifts, located at 311 Conant St., at first glance might look like just another coffee shop, but did you know it is an outreach of Sunshine Communities?  Sunshine Communities supports men, women and children with developmental disabilities, offering residential, vocational and clinical support as well as therapeutic and recreational programs. They also operate Sunshine Studio in downtown Maumee. Read more here... http://www.sunshine.org/ .  After talking to a few employees... (that by the way said numerous times they would not work anywhere else :),  I could feel the passion that they have for their jobs and what a difference they are making in the lives of so many. 

Now let me take you to the secret hidden at Georgette's!  If you have ever grabbed a cup a of coffee and not traveled down the little hallway in the back... WOW!  Do I have a surprise for you!  Those few steps will lead you to uncover the fair trade gift shop that holds the creative gifts of people all over the world.  As you venture throughout you read about the stories of artists like Marianne Wakerlin who started Solmate Socks on the simple idea that  "Life's too short for matching socks."And  Yunuke Ogandi who works for Venture Imports and loves working with Kisii stone.  She is the sole provider of her family and this job allows her to feed her family and send them to schooling in Tabaka Township.  You learn so much by admiring the beauty in this gift shop and reading about how each peice got here.  

COVID has taken its toll on Georgette's as well as many other local businesses.  There have been many delays in getting new merchandise from their many partners and many safety measures have been applyed to protect the many workers associated with Sunshine Communities.  Read more here https://www.sunshine.org/our-response-to-covid-19/ . However, the as I talked to the staff they could not say enough about how much the community came in and extended support again and again.  They were overwhelmed with the response and were grateful to be a part of a community like this!

My heart was warmed as I took the time to learn more about Georgette's! I love this community and I want everyone to know how great it is to live in the Toledo area!!!!