Candy sales are an $88 billion industry in the United States of America. But for the Grasso family, it is not about the money – it is about honoring a special family member and giving back to the community.
“It was just love at first sight for us,” said Christine Grasso, when describing the moment they met their chihuahua rescue, Chi-Chi. The family adopted Chi-Chi from Trust Rescue in Atco two years ago, and the experience sparked something in Christine’s daughter, Siena.
“I wanted a way to give back to the [rescue],” Siena, a second-grader at Saint Margaret Regional School, Woodbury Heights, said. “And I always wanted to start a candy business.”
Siena’s father, Jim, began doing some research – and with a little help from the candy salad craze on social media platform TikTok – Siena’s Candy Jar was born.
“It was sweet that Siena wanted to give back,” Christine added. “We just didn’t realize how big this was going to get.”
What began as an online ordering business, with family and friends as far away as California purchasing mixed bags, quickly grew when the family decided to start selling directly to customers.
“We started signing up for local street fairs,” said Christine, which included the Riverwinds Street Fair in West Deptford and the West Deptford Family Fun Festival. The family also started offering more personalized party favors and making cotton candy for guests.
As profits started to come in, Siena was ready to give back to the rescue, and not just financially. In the fall, the family spent a day volunteering with Trust Rescue and doing their best to not “take home every dog we met,” noted Christine.
“We spent the day assigned to a particular dog,” she said. “We even got to watch the dog get adopted, which was so rewarding for Siena.”
The family then shifted their minds to Valentine’s Day, a busy time for people in the candy industry. While planning, they received an unexpected email from local television station, PHL17.
“We were kind of shocked,” noted Christine, “but we knew we had to take the opportunity.”
The family bought additional supplies, created new bowls and headed to the television station. “Siena did such a wonderful job,” Christine said about their segment. “We still can’t believe we did that.”
Christine and Jim credit Siena’s time at Saint Margaret’s as inspiration for her desire to serve and “to have her own mission.”
It “definitely sparked something inside her,” Christine added.
Feeling like seasoned pros now, the family is thinking about branching out.
“We want to start getting into bigger events,” Jim said, including weddings. There are even potential plans for a branded trailer so the family can travel farther and keep all of their supplies organized.
The family is also exploring ways to support additional rescues and shelters.
“Siena always wants to do good,” Christine said. “We can’t wait to see where this goes.”
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