Marshmallows + Beer = A Collective Giveback
Burn ‘Em Brewing owner Steve Murray and Collective owner Mandy Krickhahn work together to make Strawberry Squishmallow Sour.
Written by Bill Nelson, Author
Riddle me this: What do you get when two marshmallow makers meet a brewer? A collaboration to support individuals living with autism. Wait… what?
This story begins in 2020 during a worldwide pandemic. After The Collective member, Deanna Roberts, and her daughter, Serena Morton, cleaned every room, closet, and drawer in their home, Serena searched for a new adventure, something to escape the lockdown boredom. Recalling a presentation in school from a marshmallow maker, she decided to make marshmallows. So, Deanna identified the ingredients, placed an order, and a few days later, Serena made her first tray of marshmallows. And they were delicious! Exploring further, Serena created new flavors including a Mexican Hot Chocolate marshmallow, and Deanna’s favorite, Brown Sugar Bourbon. Soon, Deanna was in the kitchen, creating alongside Serena, but little did they know these first batches of marshmallows would lead to something far larger than either could imagine.
After sharing marshmallows with family and friends during the holidays, they were encouraged to take their new-found passion to the marketplace. In April 2021, Deanna and Serena launched Geeky Goodies Gourmet Marshmallows. They now create small batch, artisan marshmallows sold throughout the Northwest Indiana region, often at markets and festivals. Self-proclaimed nerds, they typically have 20-40 different flavors at any given time, with limited edition marshmallows during the holidays, and even nerd-themed marshmallows on special nerd occasions such as Harry Potter’s birthday and May the 4th. Their delectable treats are enjoyed on their own, added to coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, or used in baking recipes.
But what really makes this story compelling is that Serena accomplished all of this while living with autism. Learning she was on the spectrum in elementary school, Serena had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) throughout her school years. That IEP, according to Deanna, provided Serena the opportunity to thrive, recognizing her needs as gifts that can be shaped and nurtured, just like the gifts of anyone else. With heightened sensitivities from living on the spectrum, Serena leverages her creativity, embraces her unique skills, and contributes to her community. She maintains outside employment while growing the business of Geeky Goodies, proving that individuals living with autism live in the heart of our communities, not in the margins of our communities.
The story really gets interesting when Mandy Krickhahn, founder, and creator of The Collective, introduced Deanna to Steve Murray, longtime member of The Collective, and owner of Burn ‘Em Brewing. With three creative minds in the same room, the inevitable was birthed: a collaboration of marshmallows and beer. Geeky Goodies created a limited-edition strawberry rhubarb marshmallow that Steve used to brew a sour beer named Strawberry Rhubarb Squishmallow.
In keeping with the community-minded mission of The Collective, this collaboration brew will be part of a give back, with $1 from every pint being donated to Paladin, Inc., a resource center in Michigan City, IN devoted to serving adults with special needs, including autism. According to Melissa Bohacek, Marketing Director for Paladin, autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder over the last twenty years, now accounting for 1 in 36 children being diagnosed with autism. The teams at Paladin custom design programs for individuals with autism that fit their specific needs and help them achieve their goals so they can contribute to their community and be seen for the value they offer that makes a community a diverse and inclusive place to live, both hallmarks of healthy community life.