Helping People Rise: The Sweet Mission Behind Christian's Rise Donuts

More Than Just Donuts: How One Mother's Love Created a Community-Driven Business

When Shari Nichols purchased Christian's Rise Donuts in March 2024, she wasn't simply buying a bakery – she was continuing a mission. Located on the north side of Harlan's town square, this small donut shop with its warm fireplace and delicious treats has become much more than just a place to satisfy a sweet tooth.

A Journey Born from Love and Loss

Shari's path to donut shop ownership came from an unexpected place. After moving to Harlan in 2021, she experienced the devastating loss of her son Christian, who had cerebral palsy and required 24-hour care.

Through her work with Medicaid waiver programs helping people with disabilities hire their own employees, Shari learned that the previous owners of Rise Donuts were looking to sell. What caught her attention wasn't just the business itself, but its mission.

"I thought that was the perfect opportunity to take what they had started and hopefully grow it into a little business that can help many other people in the community that are either disabled or have special needs," Shari explains.

The previous owner, Angie, had originally started the business for her sons who have autism. When Angie was looking for a buyer, she was concerned that potential new owners might change the shop's identity and discontinue its commitment to providing job coaching for people with special needs.

"The more I listened to her and she talked about it, the more it made me want to take it over to see this actually stay Rise Donuts and continue with the job coaching," Shari says.

Delicious Creations Made with Heart

Christian's Rise Donuts offers an impressive array of treats, all made with real potato dough. Their signature potato donuts come in numerous varieties including glazed, cinnamon sugar, caramel frosted, vanilla frosted, chocolate frosted, maple frosted, and specialty options like maple bacon.

"Our smoky maple is delicious," Shari notes. "And maple bacon is one of my favorites. It is one of those where there's no in-between. People either love it or they're like, 'I'm not going there.'"

The shop also creates specialty donuts like "The Turtle" (with caramel, pecans, and chocolate), "Delightfully Caramel" (featuring toasted coconut and caramel), "Peanut Butter Cup" (chocolate frosting with peanut butter drizzle and a Reese's cup), and "Monster" (chocolate frosting with M&Ms, granola, chocolate chips, and peanut butter drizzle).

Beyond donuts, Christian's Rise has expanded their menu to include cinnamon rolls (plain, apple, or raisin with various toppings), breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, puff pastries, and mini pies. They also offer wallet-friendly beverages including 50-cent coffee, hot tea, apple cider, and hot chocolate.

One unique aspect of the shop is their willingness to customize orders. Unlike many chain donut shops, Christian's Rise will make custom donuts with your preferred toppings when you order – availability permitting.

"You can order anything you would like in advance," Shari explains. "Contact me on my Facebook page or call and leave a voicemail at the store, and we'll make sure to have them ready for pickup."

The Real Mission: Helping People Rise

What truly sets Christian's Rise Donuts apart isn't just their delicious treats but their commitment to providing employment opportunities for people with special needs. The business's catchphrase – "helping people rise" – has dual meaning, referring both to their risen donuts and their mission of helping community members rise to their potential.

"This business wouldn't exist if it weren't for how the community has stepped up to say that it should exist," Shari reflects.

Finding the right team members, especially job coaches who work with employees with special needs, remains a key focus. "It takes compassionate, patient people," Shari says about what makes a good job coach. "They can have a perfect resume with all the right qualifications, but it takes the right attitude because you have so many different personalities."

The team at Christian's Rise includes a diverse group of dedicated individuals working part-time, allowing flexibility for everyone involved. This approach, while complex to manage, enables the business to maintain its special mission.

"Most of the support has just come from people sharing that it's there and people who know me or who know the mission, spreading the word and coming in when they can," Shari says.

Learning the Ropes of Donut-Making

Taking over a donut shop with no baking experience presented unique challenges for Shari. "I am not a baker. I have never been a baker. I honestly had no clue what I was doing," she admits with a laugh.

One of her biggest lessons? "The biggest thing I've learned is how picky yeast is," she says. "It depends on how much you put in, the temperature of the room, the temperature of the bowl, the temperature of the air... it's picky."

When their distributor stopped carrying the potato flour mix the previous owners had used, Shari had to experiment. "We use a combination of a donut flour mix along with regular flour, eggs, butter, and real mashed potatoes," she explains. After perfecting the recipe, she says, "Now I don't ever want to change anything."

The Heart of Community

Located next to Coffee Girl on the north side of Harlan's town square, Christian's Rise Donuts features comfortable seating and a welcoming fireplace that stays lit during winter months. The shop participates in community events like Thursday car and bike nights, when bands sometimes perform right in front of the store.

After a year in business, Shari remains focused on maintaining the mission rather than maximizing profits. "If it can keep going on its own, even if I don't make a profit... that's what I want," she says. She's even considered turning the business into a nonprofit in the future.

As Christian's Rise Donuts celebrates its one-year anniversary this April, Shari has introduced special promotions including a dozen free donut holes with every $25 pre-order on Saturdays where customers who spend $25 in-shop get a chance to spin for prizes.

Beyond Donuts: Extending Their Reach

Christian's Rise Donuts has found creative ways to expand their business model and reduce waste. After closing at 11 am, they deliver remaining donuts to local businesses including Floral Elegance, La Autentica, and Smitty's in Defiance, ensuring their delicious treats reach even more community members.

The shop also offers party rentals of their space during non-business hours—perfect for birthday celebrations, meetings, or special gatherings. For home bakers looking to scale up their operations, Christian's Rise provides kitchen rentals, giving access to their state-licensed facilities.

Special orders for parties are always welcome, with the team ready to create custom treats for any occasion. These additional services allow the business to maximize its resources while further embedding itself as a valuable community asset.

Balancing Purpose with Practicality

Running the business comes with its challenges, particularly the early morning hours. "The most difficult part of the job is the hours we have to start," Shari admits. The team arrives at 5 a.m. to prepare for opening.

"Our morning after the shop opens is like everybody else's morning. And for us, it feels like, okay, it should be afternoon by now, right?"

Despite the challenges, Shari remains committed to the mission. When asked what she loves most about the business, her answer is immediate: "The people. Hands down."

A Sweet Legacy in the Making

What began as one mother's way to create opportunities for her children has now, through Shari's dedication, evolved into a community fixture with an enduring purpose. Christian's Rise Donuts represents the best of small-town business – where commerce and compassion mix as naturally as flour and yeast.

In a world where profit often drives decisions, Shari's approach stands out. Her commitment to maintaining the original mission while adapting to challenges demonstrates how businesses can serve multiple purposes in their communities.

As Christian's Rise Donuts enters its second year, it continues to prove that when we focus on lifting others up, we all rise together. Whether you stop by for a maple bacon donut or a cinnamon roll with caramel pecans, you're not just satisfying a craving – you're supporting a mission that makes Harlan a sweeter place to live in more ways than one.

Visit Christian's Rise Donuts at 614 Market Street on the north side of Harlan's square. Open Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, and the third Wednesday of each month. Place orders by calling 712-733-7473, messaging their Facebook page, or emailing ChristiansRiseDonuts@outlook.com. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates and specials.