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Special Kneads Bakery needs help with HVAC replacement, here's how you can show your support

For years, the bakery that supports people with special needs used an electric system to warm or cool the space. That broke, now they're raising money to replace it.

GALVA, Ill. — Since 2018, Special Kneads Bakery in Galva, Illinois, has been providing sweet treats to the public and opportunities for people with special needs. Maggie Cortes opened the shop so she could work alongside her son, Frankie, who has cerebral palsy. 

When they purchased the building, Cortes says there was no source of heat whatsoever. They added a heater to the facility which they understood was really for a space the size of the average garage and they often would rely on the business next door to help manage the temperature through the shared basement.

The building next door was demolished in 2023 which then opened their building up to the freezing temperatures that we saw this winter. That added a strain to the heating system and it stopped working. They have a temporary solution but they have been working to raise money to replace their system with a new HVAC to help with climate control. Cortes has been getting quotes from multiple companies, with the most affordable one priced to a tune of around $15,000. 

Friends of Cortes' started a GoFundMe page which has raised nearly $7,000. That paired with cash donations brought in to the bakery brings their money raised to about $8,000. Cortes is hoping to choose a contractor and make a down payment within the next week or two. They are hoping to raise the rest of the money needed to fund the project so they can continue to serve people with special needs with no worry for climate control.

If you would like to support their GoFundMe page you can click here. 

If you would like to mail a check or drop off a donation you can visit them at their shop, and pick up treats, located at 326 Front St. Galva, Illinois. 

You can see a selection of their offerings in the gallery below.

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