The Sweet Addiction
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615-580-8001
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1715K S Rutherford Blvd #222
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Organization Details

Statements

Mission

To open doors to empower women survivors for success personally, professionally, relationally, and in community.

Background

Over the course of her 20+ year career in the staffing industry, founder Robin Housch encountered dozens of men and women considered 'unemployable' due to their pasts, many of them with backgrounds sustained while they were in "full blown addiction" or "not in their right mind". Taking time to get to know each individual and listen to their story, she learned that most are good people who made poor choices resulting in social, legal, and emotional barriers to gainful employment.

With her passion to empower women to overcome, she started The Sweet Addiction in 2020 as a job readiness program to offers skills training and mentorship. Our initial activity was to train women in a culinary capacity, but the onset of COVID left us unable to pursue the baking aspect of our plan so program participants were trained to sew. They designed and made face masks which were distributed to local hospitals, nursing homes and veteran communities.
Seeing people experiencing homelessness carry their belongings in trash bags, we decided to make cloth bags for them. Having overcome homelessness, one of our participants provided feedback as we designed a waterproof duffle bag that doubles as a backpack. To date we have made and distributed over 250 bags filled with toiletries and letters of encouragement from our program participants in addiction recovery.

In 2021 participants began producing embroidered aprons. They learned how to conduct time studies to determine production needs and were taught communication skills, conflict resolution, time management and goal setting.

When COVID restrictions began to lift in 2022 we secured a commissary kitchen and resumed our focus on culinary training. After successfully obtaining their food handler certification, program participants can work in the kitchen or as servers on our food truck and at catered events.

While a steady paycheck is important, the women we work with have greater needs. Many are navigating life sober for the first time and regaining custody of their children. Without proper support, 90% will relapse, and we want to break the cycle. In 2023 The Sweet Addiction is working toward building a self-sustaining community resulting in home ownership because dignity and stability, coupled with love and support, is the foundation for success.

Impact

The Sweet Addiction was voted Rutherford County's Best Nonprofit Organization for 2022. In the past year, 26 people were provided financial assistance (housing, utilities, licensing), 7 people were employed and 100+ people experiencing homelessness were gifted bags, toiletries and supplies. Short term goals include securing a commercial kitchen rental and hire kitchen staff (employ program participants), actively participate in 2 community events each month as a food vendor to gain exposure / increase revenue and roll out the STOOL Program (Simple Tools to Overcome Obstacles in Life), which provides overall case management in addition to parenting and financial classes, recovery support, work ethics and life planning.

Needs

Financial donations needed to pay for ServSafe certifications ($194) and cover wages for one baker ($37,440) and one kitchen helper ($33,280) which will allow us to employ 2 participants with barriers to employment and produce baked goods full time.

CEO Statement

My mother instilled in me to treat all people with respect, regardless of their differences, teaching me that we all come into the world the same way and that everyone has unique gifts to offer. Over the course of my 20+ year career in the staffing industry I have assisted men and women with social, legal and emotional barriers secure gainful employment. The process begins with a conversation to learn more about the individual's goals and interests so that I can match the culture as well as the skill of the person with the right company. Too many times she found good companies passing on good people who had made poor choices in the past.

With the passion to empower women to overcome these barriers I started The Sweet Addiction in 2020. The Sweet Addiction is a job readiness program that offers skills training and mentorship to build confidence. This enables women to succeed socially, relationally, and professionally. The end goal being gainful employment, breaking the cycle.


Service Categories

Primary Category: Employment  - Job Training 
Secondary Category: Human Services  - Victims' Services 
Tertiary Category: -

Areas Served

TN - Rutherford