Pepperlou Gifts: A Gift Shop with Heart
“Ellie goes to Stratford High School, she’s in the life skills program there, so we knew that college was not quite the right fit for Ellie, and she’s cool with that. She has 2 brothers that are in college. But she is thrilled that we started Pepperlou just for her so that she has something to look forward to after she graduates and just feels a part of something, and she can continue to learn and to grow,” said Valerie Cassady.
In Houston, there’s a cozy and creative gift shop called Pepperlou Gifts, and it’s way more than just a place to find cool presents. It’s a dream come true for a mom and her high school-age daughter with special needs. Meet Valerie and Ellie Cassady, the inspiring team behind this special shop.
Ellie, who is in a life skills program at Stratford High School, helps run the store with her mom. One of the highlights? “I love my corner, it’s all my stuff in my corner,” said Ellie, who enjoys selling candles and meeting customers.
Ellie’s Corner isn’t just a shelf—it’s a whole section filled with fun and colorful items handpicked by Ellie herself. “She has all the fun things over there, where teens and tweens can get birthday gifts for their friends,” said Valerie. That means cool candles, cute keychains, playful toys, and gifts that make people smile.
The Cassadys want to grow Pepperlou into something even bigger. “We’re hopeful that if Pepperlou continues to grow, we can have other children like Ellie here working as well,” Valerie shared. That means more kids with special needs could get a chance to work, learn, and shine just like Ellie.
And when tough times hit, the shop doesn’t stop giving. “The rest of the month of May, we’re giving back to Camp Blessings, which is a camp that Ellie attended last summer, and she loved,” Valerie said. Even though Ellie can’t go this year, she and her mom decided to help by raising money for the camp.
Whether you’re looking for a gift or just want to support a business with a beautiful mission, Pepperlou Gifts is a place full of heart, family, and big dreams.
I think Pepperlou Gifts is more than just a store—it’s a powerful example of love, creativity, and what can happen when families work together for a greater good. Ellie is not just helping run a business; she’s becoming a role model for others. I hope more stores like this pop up everywhere.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/2WxRTN9YtVk?si=vnUgZsC0yvY2Jt_8
- https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2020/05/14/meet-the-mom-daughter-duo-who-built-a-gift-shop-with-a-touching-mission/
- https://chatgpt.com/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
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