Hiram – Donut lovers are in for some big changes in Hiram. No, fan-favorite Maggie’s Donuts isn’t closing its doors. But the shop’s ownership and name have changed; the shop has become Maggie’s & More. And the new name reflects their mission — to do more than just sell those tasty temptations we all know and love.
Abra Schweickert is a Hiram resident who works as a special education teacher in the Kenston School District. Part of her role there is teaching life skills so that once her students graduate, they’re able to find meaningful work. As her students began to graduate, she became more aware of the lack of employment opportunities for individuals like her students, and she wanted to do something to change that. That’s when she decided that Maggie’s Donuts could be more than just a donut shop.
You see, in addition to teaching special needs students, this busy wife and mother has worked on Sunday mornings at Maggie’s for the past three years. She noticed that people come in from all around for Maggie’s donuts, which, she noted, would “sell themselves, allowing us to work on the special needs end of it.”
So Abra, along with her husband Jim, purchased the franchise from Bill and Stacey Poole. They have renamed the shop, holding on to the Maggie’s moniker, as they’ll keep serving Maggie’s donuts. They’ll be adding More, which encompasses the greater message of creating Meaningful Opportunities Reaching Everyone. And the transition was seamless. She noted, “Bill (Poole) closed the doors on Monday, and we opened on Tuesday morning (June 4th).
Upon visiting Maggie’s last week, Hiram resident Kelly Stemnock’s smiling face welcomed me, ready to take my order. Abra explained her mission to show others that people with special needs, like Kelly can do much more than is expected of them, if only given the chance. She wants to provide opportunities for students like hers to interact with people and learn new skills.
Just as in her classroom, Abra describes how people’s brains function by using a jar of Skittles™. She explained how our brain may easily match up what we see and hear with what we need to say or do, like two red candies. Another brain may be wired a little differently, with a green, yellow or blue candy blocking the connection of those two red candies. They may need to ask more questions or have some hands-on experience to connect the things that get lost. “We can provide that opportunity through the gift of time,” Abra remarked.
“We’re transferring what I do at school to here,” Abra explained. “and in watching their accomplishments,” Abra beamed, “it’s so much fun to see them gain confidence and pride.”
Employees like Kelly are paired with a job coach — currently Abra or one of her children — who helps them navigate through the variety of activities at the shop. A typical workday begins at 5 am when the donuts are received from Maggie’s facility in Middlefield. Daily activities range from taking customers’ orders at the counter or the drive-up window, working the cash register, managing inventory, and restocking shelves. When asked her favorite part of her new job, Kelly definitively answered, “Working with Abra.” And Kelly shined in her new job, serving customers with a smile, then wishing him or her a good day, and asking them to come back again.
If you stop by Maggie’s, you’ll see the same donuts, apple fritters, and bakery items you’ve come to expect. But now they’ll offer even more. Each day, they’ll have a new dizzle — their special donut of the day. In addition to the usual favorites, one special item, like filled croissants, coconut cream sticks, or apple tarts, will be available every day of the week. Check back often to try a daily dizzle with a coffee blend of the week by Cleveland-Based Solstice Roasters.
This fall, when Future plans include the addition of smoothies, paninis and other lunch items in the fall, when Hiram College is back in session. Eventually, they’d like to offer in-store decorated dizzles and hosting small events like birthday parties at Maggie’s. Meanwhile, the meaningful opportunities have already begun. Sometimes dreams do come true,” Abra marveled.
