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Moose and Me bakery surpasses its $50K fundraising goal for new store to create more jobs for disabled people

Naperville Sun - 8/26/2021

Aug. 27—Megan Elder's Kickstarter campaign to raise the money needed to move her Naperville home-based Moose and Me bakery into an actual storefront to employ more people with disabilities has succeeded.

She set a $50,000 goal but she ultimately took in $63,000 from more than 300 donors, Elder said.

"We had people donating from different walks of life," she said. "People we didn't know, family and friends, people that read the stories (about the fundraising campaign)."

Now the goal is to find the right commercial location later this year, Elder said.

"We were overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and willingness to help by people who donated and didn't donate (but wanted offer support by volunteering)," she said. "This made us even more affirmed in wanting to fulfill this dream and fill this need in our community."

Moose and Me Bakery launched in March, limited in size and scope because it is based in Elder's home kitchen. The business sells cookies, cupcakes, cakes, gift boxes, cookie-making kits and coffee.

The bakery was the brainchild of Elder and her adopted daughter, Mila — nicknamed "Moose" — who has Down syndrome.

Her two employees are Michelle Anderson, who has Down syndrome, and Jake Lukens, who has Down syndrome and autism.

Besides baking goods for customers, Moose and Me's objective is to provide job opportunities for people of all abilities in a space where they can work and contribute, Elder said.

The money raised through Kickstarter will go toward leasing the right building, doing the remodeling, purchasing the equipment needed and hiring a staff, Elder said.

They are looking at a couple locations in their preferred 1,200- to 2,000-square-foot size range and within their budget, she said. They want a place in Naperville that's big enough for staff to move around and interact with customers but also has good foot traffic, she said.

She thanked both those who offered financial support and those who have placed orders for baked goods. Right now, they're booked into September, she said.

"Business has definitely increased and we're excited about that. But we're also more excited about the new place so we don't have to turn down orders anymore," Elder said.

raguerrero@tribpub.com

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