On a chilly morning on March 12, the opening of a new commercial kitchen for Out of the Blue Granola marked another major milestone for Blue Monarch, a local nonprofit, which serves women in recovery and their children. After a ribbon cutting hosted by the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce, the dedication began with the history, as told by Susan Binkley, who founded the business in 2008. Three granola employees shared their journeys, and the benefactors explained why they were inspired to provide the new kitchen. Lydia Fulks, a new baker for Out of the Blue, told the crowd, “I am so proud because this is the first time I have worked a job sober after fifteen years of addiction,” which illustrated the significance of the business and its purpose.

Out of the Blue Granola is owned by the nonprofit, which provides on-site employment and job training for the women in the program. Long-time Blue Monarch supporters, Scott and Gail Matthews from Texas, recognized the significant role this social enterprise played in the overall recovery of the women in the program, and they wanted to see the business expand to employ additional workers. Their gift doubles the capacity to produce and places the kitchen closer to the road for better truck access.

The high-quality granola not only provides valuable opportunities for the women of Blue Monarch, but it is also a powerful marketing tool. Inside every bag of granola is a photo of one of the bakers with her powerful story of recovery on the back. “We have found that customers collect these cards, pray over them, and even write notes of encouragement to the woman in the bag,” says Binkley.

“In fact, it was a single bag of granola that introduced us to the Matthews,” says Susan Binkley. “A friend of theirs purchased a bag at the Piggly Wiggly in Monteagle in 2015, brought it back to his community of friends in Texas, and Scott and Gail were among those folks. The generous couple has supported Blue Monarch ever since and they have now made a major investment in the families we will serve for many years to come.”

The three-flavor “granola with a purpose” is sold in multiple locations throughout the region, including specialty shops, natural food markets, hotel chains, and grocery stores. It may also be purchased online at <www.outofthebluegranola.com> or on Amazon.

Additional information about Blue Monarch may be found at <www.bluemonarch.org>.