Hamilton business owner, Edgewood special needs students team up

Holly Dainton’s students have won the heart and support of a local business woman and artisan.

Venita Allen, the owner of lahVdah in Hamilton, has teamed up with special education students at Edgewood High School to sell their crafts in her store.

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Allen and her team developed a plan this past spring to allow the special needs students to bottle and label lotions to give as Mother’s Day gifts. During a visit to her Hamilton store, the students also learned how Allen’s business was started.

While that experience took place in May, Allen’s support and interest in helping the students has continued. During this year’s fall Holiday Craft Show, sponsored by the Edgewood Athletic Boosters, Allen admired the many items for sale made by the special education students.

She offered to sell the unique items in her store to help with the class’s fundraising efforts.

Within the first week the items were placed on display at lahVdah, sales exceeded expectations, according to the school district.

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All of the proceeds will benefit field trips for the students, including a spring Day Prom held in Cincinnati for high school students with disabilities.

“We are truly blessed to be in a community where our students are supported by such generous individuals like Venita Allen and her team,” said Dainton. “We are very fortunate to have mentors like Venita Allen and her team interacting and supporting our students.”

lahVdah is located at 404 Main St. in Hamilton.

This article contains information contributed from Edgewood Local Schools.

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