Everyday Heroes: A Snack with Purpose

Millions of people from all around the world connect on eBay. Each time that happens, something positive happens in the world. These are the stories of everyday people on eBay making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.

Returning to Akron, Ohio from the Amazon Rainforest, where he spent time as a Peace Corps volunteer, Evan Delahanty wanted to continue to empower the communities he had worked with there. So he founded a social good snack company.

“Peaceful Fruits is all about connecting with the people in the Amazon and using the fruit that grows wild there—that’s fair trade sourced, ethical, and sustainable—and paying these communities a fair wage to harvest this renewable product,” said Evan.

Apart from the social good his company works to attain, Evan works with The Blick Center to employ individuals who have developmental, behavioral, physical and mental health conditions.

“It is good business to employ a diverse workforce,” said Evan. “It’s good business to employ motivated employees that motivate people around them.”

Evan’s employees are not only paid a fair market wage, but are given the opportunity to apply their skills in an environment that is flexible and nurturing. Because tasks are modified and adapted to meet the capabilities of every worker, those with disabilities are able to perform at a higher level.

“It’s just a wonderful opportunity for me to raise my self-esteem and be able to be proud of myself,” said Lindsey West, who works in product packing and shipping. “I like making other people happy, so making Evan and the customers happy is really important to me.”

Peaceful Fruits is one of more than a hundred retailers in Akron, Ohio, participating in the eBay Retail Revival program.

Through November 2018, the company will donate 50% of every sale on eBay to The Blick Center.

Click here for more stories of Everyday Heroes, who are using eBay to make a difference in other's lives.