This entrepreneur jams Special Olympics advocacy (and a little chicory) into his Missouri storefront

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it.

EDINA, Missouri — Jared Niemeyer started making homemade jam to raise funds for Special Olympics Missouri, his parents shared, but he has since turned the venture into a thriving community-oriented business.

Jared’s Jams sells assorted jams, jellies, syrups — including blackberry, jalapeno, crab apple and blueberry — plus vanilla extract and specialty coffee blends from a storefront and commercial kitchen on the historic square in Edina, Missouri, a town of about 1,000 in the northeast part of the state. The products can also be purchased online and at the Kirksville, Missouri, Hy-Vee, where Jared has worked part time for 13 years.

“I love my community and helping customers,” said Jared, a 2011 graduate of Kirksville High School.

President Obama greets Jared Niemeyer in the Blue Room prior to hosting “A Celebration of Special Olympics and A Unified Generation” at the White House to mark the anniversary of the Special Olympics, July 31, 2014; photo by Chuck Kennedy, the White House

After speaking at the United Nations in 2014 on behalf of the Special Olympics about the importance of inclusion, Niemeyer was inspired to “give back” to the organization that has supported him.

Jared — with the help of his parents, Brenda and Dan — started making jam out of fruit from their family farm and selling the jars at the local farmers market, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the organization. Two years in, he had raised $6,000.

“The timing was perfect for his making the decision to raise money for the Special Olympics,” Brenda noted, “because we were right at the beginning of the capital campaign for a new facility — an actual facility, track and field, gym and new offices for our Special Olympic staff [in Jefferson City, Missouri]. We had never had that, and as coaches, we realized being able to contribute to that — to make it a statewide facility — to offer training for life, opportunities for our athletes was really important.

“We’re very grateful that Jared was able to begin contributing to that.”

Officials with Special Olympics encouraged Jared to turn the fundraiser into a business, Brenda said, with some of the proceeds still going to the organization.

Jared’s older brother, Joshua, joined in the family business by creating a line of specialty coffee blends to sell alongside the jams.

“We have three different flavors: cacao, chicory and cardamom,” Jared noted.

In 2021, the Niemeyers opened the Jared’s Jams storefront, Brenda said, after deciding it was time for a FDA-approved commercial kitchen.

Jared and Brenda Niemeyer, Jared’s Jams

“We could not — as a cottage industry — participate in events across state lines,” she explained. “We couldn’t ship our product anywhere. As we were approaching retirement from our professional careers, we knew that for Jared to be able to expand his business, we needed to think about building that kitchen.”

So Dan and Brenda’s retirement project became renovating an 86-year-old building on the town square with the assistance of a young man in the construction business.

The Jared’s Jams storefront is not just a coffee shop and a place to purchase his products; it’s also a community hub, the family said.

“I’m involved with my community, helping with different things,” said Jared, who is also active in Knights of Columbus and his church.

They host several kitchen classes — including cookie making, sourdough bread baking, goat milk soap and candle making. They have also partnered with the Knox County Health Department and 4-H for food classes.

“We offer a variety of classes, which have been really a tremendous amount of fun for the community and promotes new skills,” Brenda noted.

Jared Niemeyer, Jared’s Jams

The Niemeyers also partner with local organizations and schools.

“Whether it’s a career development class, a life skills class or an art class, they come to learn about what prompted Jared to begin a business, how it began, and why inclusion is important to him,” Brenda explained. “We typically offer a tour of the facility and they help make a batch of jam. Some are interested in the science of the coffee shop, and after a discussion, they actually have an opportunity to make several espressos.”

According to Dan, Jared’s Jams — a BuyMissouri and Missouri Grown business — has also partnered with vocational rehab the past two summers to provide a six-week work experience program for four to six juniors and seniors to give them an opportunity to learn basic job skills. They learn to help in the coffee shop, the kitchen and even on the farm.

“They not only meet other members of the community, but they learn how to interact with them in a supportive environment,” Brenda continued. “They’re learning new skills, gaining confidence, becoming empowered, and then are able to transition those skills over to everyday life and the possibilities of employment later.”

“Jared’s Jams is grateful to be so actively engaged in our community with all ages and in such a variety of ways,” she continued. “Jared frequently reports that, ‘Every day is an adventure!’”

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