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Heart and Flour Equal Kneads Bakery in Lincoln was
welcomed as a new business on Woodlawn Road Friday morning with a
large turnout for its grand opening ribbon cut event.
By 10 a.m., the time designated for the cut, there
were so many people on hand that the small bakery was unable to
contain them all. Guests gathered outside awaiting the special
event, then filed inside for a chance to taste free samples and
purchase some of the great bakery items the new business has to
offer.
Heart and Flour Bakery is the brainchild of Kelly Jo Carter, who
combined two serious loves in her life to build a business plan.
First, she loves to bake, and one of her favorite items to make is
bagels. With a showcase backed full of the scrumptious looking
treats, her imagination for flavor combinations of the favorite item
left mouths watering.
Her second love is the love for her two daughters, Keira and
Kennedy. Kennedy is autistic and Kelly Jo has often wondered what
the young woman would be able to do to be productive. And she found
that answer in her new bakery and took it a few steps further. She
said that there are many people in our community with special needs.
Those people rarely get the chance to have a productive career
because employers find it challenging to accommodate those special
needs.
Kelly Jo thought that if she could accommodate her daughter’s
special needs, she could also accommodate the needs of others in
similar situations. Therefore, she set about finding a location and
creating a workspace that would permit those with physical
disabilities the opportunity to work and earn a paycheck.
Kelly Jo says that for people like Kennedy working in
a bakery is an ideal situation because baking is a structured
activity. She explained that while cooking savory foods can be a
pinch of this and a pinch of that, baking requires precise
measurements and following the same recipe each day.
She said putting together the bakery included having
plenty of space in the kitchen for movement without being crowded,
proving workspaces that were accessible for those in wheelchairs,
and providing special tools for those with motor skill challenges.
Getting the building ready for the new business was a big challenge
that involved a lot of planning. She said that not only did the
space need to be established as a commercial kitchen that would pass
health inspections, but she also needed to adhere to Americans with
Disabilities Act rules for accessibility. Kelly Jo worked with
Homeworx Renovations of Lincoln to get the job done. She said they
did a great job and were more than happy to take on the special
challenges the interior renovation would require.
Kelly Jo said she is also getting a lot of support and feedback from
the local special education programs at the local high schools. She
said the teachers were happy to provide input, and had students that
they are hopefully will find a place at the bakery at some point in
the future.
In addition to creating a great workspace, Kelly Jo
has created a fun interior environment, due in no small part to her
daughter Keira. She said that she wanted a fun, friendly backdrop
for the bakery, something that would make people happy. Keira has a
great deal of artistic talent, and guided the process for getting
some terrific, themed artwork on the walls of the bakery.
On Friday morning, Kelly Jo Carter was joined behind the ribbon by
her daughters Keira and Kennedy Grow, family friend Roger Kane, her
first employee Lexi Collins and Steve Henderson of Homeworx
Renovations. Others behind the ribbon include Lincoln Mayor Tracy
Welch, City Clerk Peggy Bateman, Alderpersons Dennis Clemons and
Robin McClallen, Logan County Board members Lance Conahan and Hannah
Fitzpatrick, Andrea Runge with Lincoln Economic Advancement and
Development, Lindsey McCloughan of Wild Petals and Logan County
royalty Queen Julia Collins and Little Miss Vayda Farmer. Lincoln
Daily News’ Karen Castelein, Angela Reiners and Nila Smith led the
ribbon cut with WAND television also on hand.
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After a brief introduction to the event, Mayor Tracy
Welch was called on to speak. Welch noted that gainful employment
for those with special needs was a valuable asset to the community.
He thanked Carter for her insight and willingness to create a safe
workplace at Heart and Flour. He wished her all the best of luck in
the future. Alderwoman Robin McClallen also spoke saying that it was
a wonderful opportunity for the community and she too is hopeful
that the business will enjoy great success.
Hannah Fitzpatrick spoke saying she wanted to thank Carter for
investing in the community and hoped that her business would thrive.
Andrea Runge had worked with Carter early on in the
process and said that it had been a delight to spend time with the
new business owner and that she had a solid plan for her business
and an important mission. She said that she was an example of
triumph over adversity and that it was so good to see her grow her
business with such heart and commitment.
Lindsey McCloughan was acknowledged because she has a
small pop-up of fresh cut flowers set up inside the bakery. It was
noted that while McCloughan no longer has a brick-and-mortar store
in Lincoln, she is still active in her business and working to grow
it from a different perspective.
Finally it was time for the business owner to speak.
Kelly Jo Carter drew chuckles from the large crowd when she showed
everyone that the notes for her commentary were written on a
deconstructed Land O Lakes butter box.
“I want to thank everybody for being here. It has certainly been a
wild, messy and beautiful ride for us, and the fact that you are all
standing her today means the world to me.” She said that the bakery
had been born of a dream in her own kitchen to build a space where
people of all abilities could find a place to “work, thrive and
belong.”
She said, “The bakery isn’t just mine. It is Kennedy’s. It’s every
person with a different ability that deserves a chance.”
To all her supporters and to the community she ended saying, “I love
you more than a sheet pan full of cobbler.”
With the speeches concluded it was time for the posed
photo and finally the countdown to the snip. Everyone gathered
helped call out the countdown and at the perfect time, Kelly Jo
snipped the ribbon on her new business.
Everyone was invited to go inside, admire the
artwork, check out the baked goods on display and enjoy some free
samples.
Heart and Flour Equal Kneads Bakery is located at 527
Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. Shop hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven
days a week. The bakery will offer breads, bagels, cookies,
brownies, cakes, cobblers, pies and other delectable sweet treats.
Nila Smith
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