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Jessica Birmingham opened Happy Days Plants in Nov. 2021 with a dream to employ as many adults with disabilities as possible. The store was inspired by her daughter, Bailey, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When Bailey graduated from high school, she was ready to enter the workforce. According to Birmingham, Bailey struggled to find a job due to a lack of opportunities available in the community. So Birmingham opened Happy Days Plants. In early August, Birmingham announced that the retail store transitioned from a for-profit to a nonprofit.
Birmingham has always had a goal for Happy Days and it has been to employ as many people as possible. Much like her daughter — who works at the shop twice a week — adults with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and grow workforce skills while earning an income.
“For many adults with disabilities, navigating the traditional workforce can be a daunting journey filled with hurdles," Birmingham said. "We are here to bridge that gap, offering opportunities for meaningful work and a chance to showcase their remarkable talents. Every individual is welcomed here, treated with the utmost respect and given the opportunity and support to achieve their personal and professional goals."
The transition to a nonprofit was official in May and the organization has been putting things in order before its announcement in early August. To customers, nothing will change, Birmingham said. The retail shop will still be open to sell plants and offer workshops and events. The major changes will be that the store will be more mission-focused instead of retail-focused, and it will form a board of directors and adopt a different budgeting style. Most importantly, it can apply for grants and receive donations to support its mission to provide meaningful job opportunities to adults with disabilities.
In learning about the switch to a nonprofit, an anonymous donor surprised Birmingham with a $10,000 Matching Donation Challenge. The donations received from the challenge will support workshops for the entire community and potentially classes tailored for adults with disabilities, Birmingham said.
Donations could also help the organization expand its Grow With Us program. This program offers three tiers of partnership with local businesses. The first tier offers a selection of plants for businesses to purchase to enhance their space. The second tier includes the first and sends staff members out to care for the plants. The third tier supplies local businesses with selected plants that are cared for by the Happy Days team. The plants are adorned with a QR code that allows customers to purchase the plants from a partner’s shop.
Not only is this program designed to increase sales, it also helps the Happy Days team an opportunity to meet new people, get out of the store, and be a part of the community, Birmingham said.
"There is deep satisfaction in seeing the joy on a customer's face when they find the perfect plant to take home," Birmingham said. "But the true magic unfolds when you witness the pride and growth of our team members with special needs. They are instrumental in everything from helping customers select plants to ringing them up at the register, and even caring for our plants at our Grow With Us partner locations."
