Maaike Hurst's mission: to hire and support victims of domestic violence. Just women. Sorry, not…read moresorry, she says.
I'll get to the soaps and the rest in a minute, I just feel like I need to add something to the conversation. Hurst has been around the block, including a long stint in Washington state where she worked as a financial advisor. She'll tell you, if you ask, about some of the women she connected to, desperate to escape domestic abuse, but unable to speak or act due to threat of financial ruin. In this era of #MeToo, it's important to recognize that, for many women, probably the majority of the victimized, the risk of coming forward is far, far too real. The threat of poverty, particularly in the poorest state of the union, is literally life or death.
So that's where she's hoping to make a difference, and her soaps and body products are the salve. As it happens, her products are terrific; she's all about softening, soothing, giving your body that buttah, baby. One or two drops of her body butter had my hands rejoicing all day. Delightful bath bombs. Terrific local art from, yeah, a pretty powerful woman. All in a space about the size of a big walk-in closet, hand-crafted and easy to warm up to, much like Maaike herself. The very first time I spoke with this woman I enjoyed her, and you'll enjoy spending a little more for better products that support a critical cause.