DAYDREAM RIVER CO

from POLISHED Magazine Autumn/Winter 2020

PANDEMIC

DayDream Ri r Co.

For the majority, quarantine has been a time to binge-watch Netflix, try out new recipes, and scroll endlessly through TikTok and other social media platforms. But for Elise Dudley and Sam Martin, owners of Daydream River Company, this has been a time to be creative and make an impact. Daydream River Company is a charming online business selling artisanal décor and accessories through Instagram and Etsy. Located on the Farmington River in northwest Connecticut, the business offers hand-made products ranging from stickers, macrame keychains, bohemian crystal jewelry, and even custom-made functional shelves.

The idea for the business was created about a year ago, when Dudley was looking to buy shelves for her dorm room on Etsy. When she ran the possible purchase by Martin, he replied with the idea of building them on their own to avoid paying the high price of the shelves. After purchasing supplies from the hardware store, the couple made their own version of the shelves for only a fraction of the original price. When Dudley decorated her dorm at school with the shelves, she received many compliments. The praise from those around her prompted the couple to start Daydream River Company. They also began to see a high demand for other products, such as jewelry, leading Dudley to learn how to bead and make pendants. They received a great deal of custom orders for various products, such as custom size shelves or jewelry containing a certain crystal or property. Most of Daydream River Company’s sales are made through Instagram and Etsy, and social media has played a significant role in helping to promote the business.

“That’s something so great about it [social media]. You see all of these sellers on TikTok and you’re like ‘I can do that!’ so I did it,” Dudley said.

The business was able to flourish because of the skills previously acquired by each of the owners. Dudley has always been creative, self-identifying as a “grandmother at heart,” with a lasting passion for crafting in all forms. She taught herself to knit, which led her to pick up crocheting, macramé, and jewelry-making. Dudley purchases cord— which she uses for the keychains—in bulk, as well as the wooden rings and beads used for other products offered in their online shop. Driven by a desire to support small local businesses during the pandemic, all the crystals and gems she uses to make jewelry are sourced locally

by a family-owned business in Connecticut. Although it has proven to be a challenge to find locally sourced products in an affordable price range, they do as much as possible. While Dudley handles the crafting and packaging portion of their orders, Martin has always loved woodworking, and has a background in mechanics and craftsmanship. He handles the financial aspects of the business, in addition to preparing the pine wood used to make the shelves in their basement workshop. After staining the wood, he adds a polyurethane finish which protects the wood from damage. Although there is only one color currently available, Martin has been considering adding more color options of stain at some point in the future.

Dudley and Martin created the business and its mission with college students and young adults in mind. They aim to provide customers with cute, fashionable décor and jewelry at a reasonable price.

“Our whole thing is we try to keep [the products] as cheap as possible for production, as well as the amount of labor it takes. It’s really just the two of us that make things, so even though it takes a really long time to do by hand with all the small batches, we really, really wanted people to be able to afford the products because being a young adult is hard. When you’re emerging into your young adult life and trying to decorate your dorm room or your apartment, stuff can get expensive! We just thought it was crazy that all these young people who wanted the ‘modern look’ had to pay so much money for such cute things,” Dudley said.

Since both Dudley and Martin know this struggle firsthand, their goal for Daydream River Company is to provide customers with unique, bohemian décor at the most affordable price possible. Dudley is a student at Mount Holyoke College and is studying Psychology and Anthropology. Martin attends UConn Hartford majoring in Business. As college students, Dudley and Martin said that it can be very challenging to balance pursuing an education while running a business. She works ten hours a day while taking classes to get her yoga-teacher certification. Martin takes college classes while also serving in the Marine Corps. Due to their busy schedules, they have slightly decreased social media promotions to allow themselves the appropriate time necessary to complete each order.

“We typically create the products made-to-order, so like anything else, it has been a lot, but it’s also been a learning process,” Dudley said.

As for the future of Daydream River Company, Dudley and Martin would like to create their own website for the business and hope to start promoting themselves on social media once again when their busy schedules allow more time. They plan on adding more products to their shop, such as additional collections of décor and new jewelry.

Both Dudley and Martin said that they view the business as a silver lining of the pandemic. Dudley and Martin saw this time in quarantine as a chance to slow down and do something they always wanted to do, but never previously had the time for. They turned a negative time into an opportunity to be creative and craft products that they are proud of.

“If you’re able to take away anything from the pandemic, let it be something good. Make your dreams come true during this time when you’re not able to do very much!” Dudley said.

@daydreamriverco; www.etsy.com/shop/daydreamrivercompany

Sixty-three million tons of food produced in America are thrown away every single year. To put that in perspective, that amount of food could feed approximately 1.8 million To put that in perspective, that amount of food could feed approximately 1.8 million people for their entire lifetime. This raises the question of why millions of Americans still people for their entire lifetime. This raises the question of why millions of Americans still experience food insecurity. Pondering this same conundrum, Ashley Stanley founded experience food insecurity. Pondering this same conundrum, Ashley Stanley founded Lovin’ Spoonfuls, setting out to combat food insecurity and food waste in the United Lovin’ Spoonfuls, setting out to combat food insecurity and food waste in the United States. Her organization rescues perfectly good food from going to waste, then delivers States. Her organization rescues perfectly good food from going to waste, then delivers it to those in need. Established 10 years ago, Lovin’ Spoonfuls has already rescued more it to those in need. Established 10 years ago, Lovin’ Spoonfuls has already rescued more than 18 million pounds of food, distributing it to hundreds of thousands of people. In 2020, than 18 million pounds of food, distributing it to hundreds of thousands of people. In 2020, Lovin’ Spoonfuls reached active status in 40 different towns across the Greater Boston Lovin’ Spoonfuls reached active status in 40 different towns across the Greater Boston area, and currently feeds over 30,000 people in the community each week. area, and currently feeds over 30,000 people in the community each week.

Stanley was born and raised in the charming city of Boston. After moving away, she started Stanley was born and raised in the charming city of Boston. After moving away, she started her early career working in the fashion industry, focusing on customer relations and brand her early career working in the fashion industry, focusing on customer relations and brand communication. Around 2010, Stanley returned to Boston to spend some time with family, communication. Around 2010, Stanley returned to Boston to spend some time with family, but found herself unable to leave. It was here in Boston that she founded Lovin’ Spoonfuls, but found herself unable to leave. It was here in Boston that she founded Lovin’ Spoonfuls, marking the start of her battle against food insecurity. marking the start of her battle against food insecurity.

Originally, Lovin’ Spoonfuls was created with the intent to understand the severity of hunger and food waste, and how they could happen simultaneously. Once Stanley better understood these issues, she began to generate a plan for Lovin’ Spoonfuls to combat them. The organization works closely with over 75,000 grocery stores, bakeries, and other local food sources to rescue fresh food daily. The drivers receive the food from these vendors, then deliver it (on the same day) along eight different routes throughout Hampden County and MetroWest communities. This fresh food helps feed over 30,000 people in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, senior centers, food pantries, domestic violence agencies, after-school programs, and meal delivery services. In 2014, The Boston Globe recognized Stanley as one of the city’s “Game Changers.” This title was welldeserved, as she and her team have revolutionized the food rescue mission and positively changed hundreds of thousands of lives.

On the surface, it may appear that Lovin’ Spoonfuls is just another food bank, but they are truly something unique in the food rescue and social services industry. They are able to provide fresh foods to their community, making them one of the only nonprofits that does not limit their clients to non-perishables. Through the practice of rescuing food, the organization is also benefiting the environment. Saving millions of pounds of food from landfills each year prevents millions of kilograms of greenhouse gasses from being emitted into the atmosphere. The organization is not just trying to feed the community, but change the world on a much larger scale.

The ability to become successful comes from Stanley’s philosophy that America’s hunger problem does not stem from a lack of supply, but from its means of distribution. There is plenty of food available, but there is not an effective system in place to distribute it. Realizing this, Stanley built the organization in a way that reflects the root of the problem rather than the consequence. The organization now attacks these problems from a logistical and systematic perspective, allowing them to break out of the traditional mold of a non-profit. This explains how Lovin’ Spoonfuls became New England’s largest food rescue agency in under a decade.

Amidst a pandemic, there has been an economic recession and a record unemployment rate, putting pressure on many families’ ability to put dinner on the table. As a result, Lovin’ Spoonfuls saw immense growth by over 200% in partner applications from other nonprofits. In response to the demand, they added their eighth delivery route, serving Chelsea, Revere, Everett, East Boston, and Lynn.

“We have been diligent about staying ahead of potential challenges that arise out of each new phase or stage of the pandemic,” Stanley said.

The coronavirus pandemic has also put pressure on many companies to change their operations to be safer and more digital. Pre-pandemic, Stanley would constantly be bouncing around the community, meeting with all kinds of folks to develop strategies and host fundraising events. However, her days are now packed with endless Zoom meetings, as the whole country is trying to adapt to a new way of doing business. COVID-19 has proved to be quite unpredictable, forcing Lovin’ Spoonfuls to readjust their long-term goals. They have had to put future plans and timelines for expansion on hold, as the current state of affairs is demanding their attention elsewhere.

“Our main focus is keeping our employees and our partners safe, and our community well-resourced,” Stanley said.

With 2020 emphasizing the importance of the health of our communities and our planet, Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ mission has never been more relevant. The most effective way individuals can support their initiative is by joining the Friends of Lovin’ Spoonfuls Program and donating to sponsor meals. If you are not able to make a monetary donation, you can still visit their website and explore other ways to help the team or get involved in your local community. Ending food insecurity may seem like an impossible task, but Lovin’ Spoonfuls is transforming the system and building a future where no stomachs are empty.