Chantelle Deane and her husband Christopher feel so strongly about their cause they opened a business to support it.
Cupcakes for Autism, a non-profit bakery opened in October of 2015. It is located in County Crossings Plaza near Lowe’s.
Chantelle has four children and one on the way. Two of her children, her three and four year old sons, have autism. She has been very involved in Autism causes raising money for national organizations.
One day she met a family with an adult autistic son and it started her thinking about how all the programs for autistic children stop at age 18.
From that meeting she started thinking about what would her sons be doing after age 18 and she knew she had found her passion. She opened the bakery as a workforce training program. Serving delicious homemade cupcakes, cakes and pies, the money earned is used like any business to keep the business going. Chantelle and two volunteer partners do the baking, but the front of the house is operated by young adults with Autism. She currently has four employees.
Sam has been with her since the opening and has become a star dealing with customers. Joseph works better with repetitive tasks and prefers washing dishes.
“I wanted to create a place for them,” said Chantelle, “a place where they can feel and be normal –not different.
These children want jobs, but training them takes a special understanding. Autism runs the spectrum and shows so many different issues. Some may use the training and then move on to a regular job; some may find their niche at the bakery and stay right here.”
Working with the public has helped them improve their social skills.
“I have really seen Sam grow. He is much more open with people and great with the customers,” she said.
Sam’s stepmom told Chantelle that family visiting for the holidays that hadn’t seen Sam in a while could not believe the difference.
Sam is 18 and lives in Summerfield. He cites selling cupcakes and socializing with friendly customers as the reason he likes working at the bakery. His personal favorite bakery item is the Black Forest Brownie.
Working in the bakery teaches them so many things. They have to learn scheduling and dealing with interruptions in their schedule, they learn communication skills and how to deal with difficult customers that don’t understand Autism and also it helps teach them separation from their parents. For many of these young adults, it is the only time they are away from them.
In addition to running the bakery six days a week and, caring for four children she and her husband take these young adults out for Fun Nights about six times a month. They go bowling or to a movie. They get to spend time with like-minded individuals. It is also a respite for their parents who even though these kids are now young adults still require a caretaker.
Chantelle ultimately has plans for bigger things in regard to helping young adults with Autism a segment of the population that almost becomes invisible after they leave school.
“Someone needs to be their voice,” says Chantelle, “We are making a movement. The bakery is a small start, but you have to start somewhere.”
Right now their mission is to keep the bakery going.
“We feel so strongly about this we are living on our savings,” she said.
In addition to being a work-force training center it is an excellent bakery. Chantelle has more than 12 years experience as a professional baker. Everything is made from scratch early in the morning. Chantelle said their biggest sellers are the bread pudding and the brownies.
“We are becoming known for our bread pudding. I think because we soak it in so much liquor,” she joked.
Of the many varieties of cupcakes the carrot and fudge are big sellers. People also come in to buy whole pies especially the coconut and key lime. In addition to what is sold in the bakery, they bake cakes for parties and do wedding cakes. They provide a delivery service depending on the size of the order.
Customers David and Linda Murphy, residents of Stonecrest, were in the bakery for a first visit. They each had the peanut butter brownie. They declared it excellent.
“We’ll be back,” David Murphy promised.
Another customer Julie Laflamme of the Village of Silver Lake was enjoying a buttercream brownie. She had purchased a dozen cupcakes for a birthday party. Her friend Dacia Desautels visiting from California declared her peanut butter brownie to be “awesome.’
In addition to the sweet treats, the bakery is open for breakfast and lunch. The breakfast croissants are starting to gain a regular following.
Future plans include birthday parties and cake decorating parties.
It is a lot of hard work. Right now she and her husband switch off. One is at the bakery while the other is caring for their four children. At times it can feel a little overwhelming, especially now that Chantelle is pregnant, but they are driven to see this succeed.
“All of the money earned goes back in to the business to pay for rent, lights, ingredients and so on,” says Chantelle. “We are completely transparent.”
People can support the cause of helping young adults with Autism by shopping at the bakery. Direct donations are also accepted.
For more information about the bakery, visit their website, www.eatcake-love.com.
