Kyle Garberson, MudLOVE, spoke to the Winona Literary Club Wednesday at the Robin Hood Community Center. He shared that in September 2009, potter Luke Wright felt God leading him start a business that was not about him but was to help others. Mud/clay was what he knew and he had the love in creating a product, in doing and in giving away hence came the name MudLOVE. At the beginning, Luke determined to give 20 percent of the profit away and chose a local company, Water for Good, that helps get clean drinking water in the Central African Republic. After a struggling first year in a garage along the canal in Winona Lake, his business began to become recognized as a product and name. The LOVE bracelet is the leading business item being shipped around the country and world. The bands are made with various imprints and people can request bands to use as fundraising items, to celebrate a special event or whatever a customer can imagine. While still located in the Winona Lake garage, another building in downtown Warsaw also is used in manufacturing. The company is expanding the sales market and will soon be hiring more people and seeking more manufacturing space. MudLOVE people are passionate to create their product and to provide clean drinking water in the CAR. While the bands are the dominate selling item, Garberson said there are other clay pieces that are created and available for sale. Carol Volkers led the group Collect and prayer. Vera Stevens introduced her granddaughter, Miranda Engle, who played three selections on the piano. President Marcia South conducted the business meeting followed by hostesses Carol Schuler, Rose Marie Henning and Joyce Griffith serving whipped cream topped gingerbread, fresh fruit and nuts for refreshments. The Oct. 15 meeting will feature Beth Smith presenting genealogy research and her search for birth parents. The hostesses will be Vera Stevens, Carol Volkers and Donna Gayle Woodling.
