Carrington Epperson knows something about grit.
“Grit is when you have a dream, and you are committed, no matter what the blessings or challenges that will come from it, to see that come to fruition and have it be executed well,” she said on a recent afternoon.
Emery Epperson loves his mama’s baked treats. (Photo by Jeff Morgan, Chime Studio)
The Charlottesville resident was reflecting on her determination to be a stay-at-home mother to her 3-year-old son, Emery, and how she launched her business, Chanterelle Café, to do just that.
Her success started with a $1,500 grant from United Way of Greater Charlottesville.
The best cinnamon rolls
Epperson taught herself to bake because she and her husband, Michael, have food allergies and are vegan. She wanted her son to have birthday cakes and celebratory goodies. That philosophy gradually broadened to include others in the community with dietary restrictions – those who might otherwise have to skip a sweet treat, too.
“Me providing you with a birthday cake that everybody can eat and enjoy is very inclusive, and it makes things more equitable,” she said.
When Epperson started selling her home-baked goods at the Charlottesville Farmers Market at IX Art Park, she had to borrow tents and tables for her Saturday setups. The United Way grant, she said, allowed her to buy her own tent and table, a bakery display case, mixers and a tabletop dough sheeter, a special tool she uses to make croissants.
“It really took me from what seemed like a hobby to looking like a very professional bakery setup, and it greatly increased my sales,” she said. “I tripled my income just last year by being able to get the grant to fund the equipment that I needed.”
Her son Emery is a built-in fan. Epperson is pretty sure her cinnamon rolls are his favorite. “He’s extremely good about sharing everything: his toys, his clothes, you name it, he’s sharing it with you,” she said. “He does not share a cinnamon roll.”
Business is booming. “People put in a lot of custom orders directly with me, so I am pretty booked up for the fall for weddings and charity events,” Epperson said.
UVA giving back
This year, the University of Virginia is partnering with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Epperson’s benefactor, to launch the “Give Where You Live” campaign, supporting roughly 100 local nonprofits, including food banks, literacy advocates, educational resources, community health, veterans groups and animal welfare organizations.
Starting Sept. 16 – the day of the United Way’s 35th annual Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring, the Charlottesville area’s largest public service event – UVA employees will be able to pledge their support to participating local charitable organizations using payroll deductions or credit or debit cards. The fall fundraising campaign runs through Dec. 18.
“We’re pleased to partner with United Way on this important program,” said Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, UVA’s executive vice president, chief operating officer and Give Where You Live program co-chair. “We have heard loud and clear that our employees appreciate having a chance to give through payroll deduction, and this new partnership will allow UVA employees to give back to the community in a meaningful way.”
For Epperson, the United Way gave her a boost when she and her family needed it most, and she’s grateful both to the organization and to everyone who donates to it.
