ITHACA, N.Y. (NCC News) – Via Carpenter vividly remembers the first time she ever stepped foot into the kitchen to bake. She stood less than the counter, but that didn’t stop her from cracking a perfect egg and making some delicious cookies. Via grew up watching her family bake; her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all bake cookies. It seems fitting that when Via decided to start a business in middle school she choose cookies as her product.
“I think cookies are a thing in my family maybe,” Carpenter said. “I’ve never thought about it that much but yeah we’ve made a lot of cookies so I think it just came naturally.”
What started as a way to earn some extra money for a new phone or a new uniform has now become a business with a greater purpose. Via’s Cookies was founded in November of 2020 with a goal to give back to students in need. Carpenter pledges 5% of all proceeds to struggling minority students in both BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Carpenter herself understands the challenges students of color and other minorities face, especially in the education system.
“I founded Via’s Cookies with the intention of giving back because of the struggle I had gone through when I was younger,” Carpenter said. “I was low income, a person of color, a woman and I grew up in rural Ohio.”
After graduating high school, Carpenter decided to move east to attend Ithaca College. But one thing remained the same: she was still a Black women going to school at a predominantly white institution.
While in school, Carpenter was part of the Martin Luther King Scholar Program at Ithaca College and created a project she called, “The Miseducation of America,” recognizing flaws of the U.S. education system and looking into understanding why. And even if Carpenter wasn’t thinking about that program when starting her new business, the two ideas have come full circle.
Since starting the business in 2020, Via’s Cookies has been able to give back to countless students with hundreds of dollars. And the response from the recipients is always one of gratitude.
“Usually they say, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you so much. You have made things a lot easier this semester’” Carpenter said.
Even though the business pledges 5%, Via makes an effort to give as much as she can to students. It can be difficult since her business needs to make a profit to give back, but Carpenter’s priority remains that of helping others in need.
“I try to give at least $100 to each student. They’re always super grateful,” Carpenter said. “I don’t even limit myself to New York, if someone comes asking for help, then I definitely want to help because I know the struggle.”
And that money can go a long way for many students. Carpenter said students have used the money for college books, rent and utilities, travel expenses, groceries, and more.
“Any amount of help I can give to these students –trying their hardest to get out of poverty and facing multiple hurdles that people with a lot more privilege don’t have to face– it’ll alleviate some of the pain,” Carpenter said.
The future of Via’s Cookies is still growing and changing. And Carpenter has a big plan ahead.
“I specifically want to be able to form a foundation,” Carpenter said. “Essentially, get my business to a point where I’m operating at a capacity where I can give thousands of dollars to people, essentially scholarships.”
Via’s Cookies is sold all across Central New York in bookstores, coffee shops and college campuses. People are encouraged to visit Via’s Cookies on Instagram and Viascookies.com to nominate a student in need.
