READ OUR STORY

At age two, our daughter Tatum was diagnosed with a kidney condition called Nephrotic Syndrome(NS), a group of symptoms caused by damage to the kidney's filters called glomeruli. NS leads to many complications and dependence on harsh medicines. In severe cases, NS can lead to kidney failure. The cause of NS is unknown and relatively rare, with 2-4 out of every 100,000 children diagnosed yearly in North America and, in some cases, higher in other countries.

In 2017 we started making candles at home as a hobby, and our friends and family quickly fell in love with them. So, after many requests, we decided to start A Little Soy Candle Company. Early on, we decided it would be best to use our company to give back and support essential things to our community and us. So, we began to donate a percentage of candle sales to Nephcure Kidney International, a nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania focused on finding a cure for Nephrotic Syndrome. Our goal is to sell 1 million candles by the year 2030, which would raise over 1.5 million dollars for kidney disease. 

Since our company's founding, we have been through many ups and downs. COVID-19 impacted us significantly and led us to close for a short period. However, our loyal customers kept our dream alive with many messages and emails asking when we would sell candles again. As a result, we relaunched our company in late 2020.

Since reopening, we have continued to face many challenges. Shortages led to increased prices and difficulty getting the materials. Tatum's kidneys also began to go in the wrong direction, and our mental health declined. At this point, we realized that physical and mental health is equally important. We also recognized that millions of people around the country are going through similar experiences and need help from their communities. 

We decided to expand our products and purpose this year, forming Crooms & Company. Our mission is to bring joy to our customers and support humanity through charitable donations, awareness campaigns, and education. More to come in 2023!

-The Crooms Family

  • Raise awareness.

    If you were to put 100,000 children inside of a football stadium, 16 of them would have Nephrotic Syndrome. This makes the condition a rare but complicated disease. We hope that as we share our story, we will also raise more awareness about this rare condition unknown to many.

  • Raise money.

    Since our daughter's diagnosis, we have formed a relationship with Nephcure Kidney International. This non-profit has led the effort in getting us closer to finding a cure. Over the past 20 years, Nephcure has invested over 40 Million dollars in research and patient support. Currently, we donate 10% of our sales directly to the organization and have a goal to sell 1 million candles by 2030. This would raise over 1.5 Million dollars for the cause.

  • Human centered business 

    As social entrepreneurs, we are always thinking about the big picture. We recognize that as Americans, we are incredibly fortunate to have the ability to operate a small business. Sadly this is an opportunity that billions of people around the world do not have. When making a business decision, we will always do our best to consider the needs of our customers, employees, partners, and community. The world is abundant, and we believe wealth is best invested when it elevates humanity.

Thank you for your love and support!