40 Dreams Catering provides healthy meals to senior citizens and disabled adults in Northern and Central New Jersey through a Medicaid-funded program called Managed Long-Term Services and Supports.
A dream of owner/founder, Adrienne M. Fudge, 40 Dreams Catering began as what some may call a “second act” after Adrienne decided to leave her corporate job and attend culinary school later in life.
“Fast forward to 2015, I was given an opportunity to cook for senior citizens, and I jumped at it because it was in alignment with who I am,” said Adrienne. “Cooking for seniors spoke to my heart. I learned to cook from my mother, who had Lupus. Due to her condition, I grew up cooking with herbs and spices instead of salt. So, it made perfect sense to provide salt-free foods to my senior clients.”
Their fresh (not frozen) meals are made with no added sugar or salt to accommodate the health needs of seniors and have been getting rave reviews.
Turning a Passion into a Business
Adrienne soon realized the potential of turning her passion for healthy cooking into her own business. She worked with Valley who provided her with a business checking account, access to a line of credit, recommendations in securing a commercial space, as well as referrals to non-profit organizations that helped with business plans and marketing ideas.
Now, in addition to 40 Dreams Catering, Adrienne has launched a second successful business called Cooking Thyme, which provides cooking classes to children and adults. They offer birthday parties, corporate team-building cooking classes, couples’ events, and more. The cooking classes are a great way to relax and learn while having a good time with family, friends, and coworkers.
Adrienne is now an entrepreneur two times over and serves as an inspiration to others who are looking to start their own businesses.
She said, “The advice I would give to others is to get clear on what they want and go after it with a vengeance. Commit to not giving up. There will be times when you want to give up but don’t! It will all work out as long as you stay the course.”
Making a Positive Impact
40 Dreams Catering positively impacts the lives of senior citizens and their families. They’ve had clients report that their hypertension and diabetes are better controlled because of the healthy meals they provide.
Also, by delivering the meals directly to each senior’s home, 40 Dreams represents a friendly face and positive human interaction for those who are living alone. Many seniors today are isolated and lonely, which can negatively impact their health. Studies have shown that seniors who receive home-delivered meals have 1.5 times fewer visits to the emergency room than those who do not receive meals.
Finally, it can be a great comfort to adult children, who may be working full-time and raising their own children, to know that their parents are being taken care of and receiving healthy meals. 40 Dreams reduces stress for adult children while providing quality meals to senior citizens. It’s a winning situation for the seniors, their families, and for 40 Dreams.
Valley: Supportive & Strategic Partners
Valley specializes in helping small businesses like 40 Dreams thrive by offering services and a personal touch that makes us stand out from other financial institutions.
Adrienne is very thankful for her partnership with Valley. “Having a line of credit with Valley has been extremely helpful,” she said. “When receivables do not come in on time, the line of credit allows me to continue operating efficiently.”
Valley is proud to help entrepreneurs and small businesses be the best they can be.
Visit Valley.com or contact us today to explore how we can support your entrepreneurial journey.
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