With Easter just days away, this is the busiest time of year for Josh Early Candies.
"Our workforce was preparing for six, seven days a week production and ramping up," says Barry Dobil Jr., Vice President of Josh Early Candies. It's a very exciting time for us and then it's a really high spirit, high energy environment, the weeks leading up to Easter.
A high energy environment halted by COVID-19. The family was forced to make tough decisions. The ultimate decision was made for the safety and well-being of staff and the community.
Josh Early Candies decided to close its doors.
Closing the doors during its busiest season means thousands and thousands of freshly made chocolates and candies are in stock. The fifth generation family business decided to donate all of its inventory to the heroes of the Lehigh Valley, in a campaign called, "You've Been Egged."
Some of those heroes include staff at senior care facilities, healthcare workers at St. Luke's University and Lehigh Valley Health Networks and first responders.
The Dobil family is inspired, motivated and excited to open their doors when COVID-19 is over.
"We'll get through it. We're excited to get through it and we'll be back", says Dobil Jr. "I cannot even tell you the energy that's kind of stirring among us and our employees with what this is going to look like when we're back. It's going to be absolutely phenomenal, where people are already asking for Easter in July. That's something we got to figure to be determined. But we really cannot wait to open our doors once again and continue to provide, you know, the quality candy and customer service that everyone's been used to."
They say, #TheTraditionWillContinue.
Check out Josh Early Candies' Facebook page for more photos of #YouveBeenEgged