Elaine Scott and Colleen Brennan took over Kati Mac Floral Designs, a nonprofit flower shop in West Chester, wanting to provide meaningful employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Stephanie Farr, in The Philadelphia Inquirer, reported on what they ended up cultivating.

“We’re really proud of the fact that more than 50 percent of our employees have special needs,” said Brennan. “It would be uncommon for someone to walk into our shop and not see one of our employees with special needs working.” 

Last year, the two were gifted the shop, a West Chester staple for more than a decade, by its former owners. They wanted to help the two women achieve their dream of creating a place in which people with special needs can get meaningful jobs. 

The goal of the newly formed nonprofit is to create a positive space for people with cognitive disabilities to learn, train, and grow. At this time, six out of ten employees are individuals with Down syndrome, including Scott’s daughter, Emily. 

“It means so much to me to have Emily working here and enjoying her employment and finding her niche,” said Scott. 

Read more about Kati Mac Floral Designs in The Philadelphia Inquirer.