ST. MARTIN, Miss. (WLOX) — What started as a hobby for Cassidy Hotchkiss has spun into something much bigger.
Her passion for crocheting is now bringing in extra income through Smiley Day Crochet and knitting together a stronger connection to her community.
“It just brings me joy because it’s something that they’ll probably have for a while,” Hotchkiss said. “And every time they look at it, it’s just a nice handmade thing that they got.”
She was one of more than 20 vendors at the August Community Social, sharing her crafts with a crowd eager to support local talent.
“It’s nice meeting other small businesses, seeing how they do their setups, seeing the kind of stuff, the art they do. It’s just nice. It’s good for the community,” Hotchkiss said.
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Just a booth away, Muffy Made It, LLC, satisfied the crowd’s sweet tooth with a lineup of fresh-baked treats.
“I know after one bite, you’re going to want to buy it. It’s made with love,” Veronica McInnis said.
Owner Veronica McInnis turned her lifelong passion in the kitchen into a thriving small business.
“It’s therapy for me; I get in the kitchen, turn on my music, and I’m in a zone. So, I just love to do it,” McInnis said.
Organizer Candace Gurley said the social is all about creating a launchpad for local businesses to share their passions side by side.
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“Just wanted to be able to get, you know, small businesses together, give us space, you know, to be able to sell and meet new customers and get our names out there,” Gurley said.
It’s a community space where different generations find a shared creative outlet, regardless of purpose.
“We try to create an environment where everybody can sell and make money and stuff like that and meet customers that need their items that they’re looking for,” Gurley said.
Whether you’re buying a unique gift or simply showing support, every visit makes a difference for these small businesses.
“I think it’s, you know, important for just to support small businesses to come out and give support, you know, when you can,” Gurley said. “And you don’t have to buy everything. Everybody has stuff that’s in all different price ranges and budgets.”
Organizers also collected new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots, adding a charitable component to an afternoon focused on local businesses.
To learn more about other small businesses in the area, click here.
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