NJ Candle Company Employs Adults With Disabilities for 20 Years

For 20 years, Tony and Susan Gross have run their candle company with a simple philosophy: great products and meaningful jobs go hand in hand.

A Cheerful Giver, based in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, partners with Career Opportunity Development Inc (CODI) to employ adults with disabilities. These team members place the wick in every single candle the company produces. They're not helping out or volunteering; they're the heart of the operation.

Founded in 1991, the company now sells to thousands of retail stores nationwide and ships worldwide. Their premium hand-poured candles have built a devoted following on Amazon, with customers praising their powerful scent that fills entire homes.

But the Grosses designed their workplace differently than most. Each employee decides how long they want to work each day, anywhere from a few minutes to six hours. There are no quotas, no pressure, just purposeful work and daily paychecks that build independence.

CODI, the nonprofit partner, was founded 55 years ago by parents who wanted their children with disabilities to find real work, vocational training, and housing. The organization places workers in competitive wage jobs across multiple industries near Atlantic City.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine isn't just the quality candles or the growing business success. It's watching a family-owned company prove that inclusive employment works beautifully for everyone involved.

The employees earn competitive wages that support their independence. The company gets dedicated team members who take pride in their work. And customers get exceptional products while supporting a business model that treats dignity and belonging as non-negotiable values.

"When you buy an A Cheerful Giver candle, you're supporting a workplace that has given differently-abled individuals the opportunity to contribute, earn, and belong," the Grosses explain on their website. One loyal customer who switched from a national brand summed it up perfectly: "The scent throw is unmatched, but what makes them special is who makes them."

For two decades, this small New Jersey company has quietly shown what's possible when businesses see ability instead of limitation.