Meet Karin Donnelly | a mom who loves to cook, bake and help others

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karin Donnelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It’s really pretty silly how this all started. I have always loved to cook and bake. But I also have a heart for helping people. It’s a desire that is built in me. I have always done desserts and worked with chocolates for friends, fundraisers, church or school activities, etc. But one day a very dear friend contacted me to tell me about a group she is part of on Facebook. It is for U of A families. She told me that out of state parents frequently post asking how to send their child a birthday cake, cupcakes, treats to show them that they are missing them, or a care package while they study or just to cheer them up, etc. For a lot of parents, this was the very first birthday they were away from their child! This really spoke to my heart! I went on the group and put a post asking if parents would like the opportunity to have homemade food or desserts made and delivered to their child at their dorm or apartment. I received an overwhelming response from out of state families that would love this service. I knew that I could do this with quality ingredients for very reasonable prices. Home Sweet Home was born! I cook or bake for out of state parents and deliver directly to their child. I envisioned being able to make a favorite family recipe that a young adult was missing, being away from home for the first time or a traditional homemade birthday treat for them. Being a mom myself, I totally understood what it would mean to be away from my child for some of these milestones. I wanted to help and I knew that I would be making parents as happy as the students I would deliver to. By word of mouth, this has spread to people in Tucson calling me to make treats for weddings, parties, holidays, graduations, teacher gifts, etc. I also work with quality chocolate and dip strawberries, oreos, pretzels, marshmallows, apples, etc. I make custom printed sugar cookies for all occasions, logos for businesses, holidays. I bake anything from cupcakes, brownies, cookies, chocolate chip cookie cakes, lemon bars, to making holiday gift baskets and I deliver in Tucson.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What’s funny is that I don’t really consider Home Sweet Home a business. It’s really just me doing what I love. I don’t advertise or have a website. I have a Facebook page where people can see things I’ve done and message me with questions. It has my cell phone number on it that people can call or text and get me right away. I really am a mom who cooks and bakes and loves to help people. I am not a fancy bakery making extravagant cakes. I make homemade food, desserts, cupcakes, brownies, chocolate dipped items, custom sugar cookies, etc. and I deliver them. What sets me apart, I think, is that my prices are very reasonable and I work with each person who calls me to come up with something they will love. I do not do this to get rich. It truly is from my heart. What I am most proud of is helping people. I have been called because a college student is away from family for the very first time and their great-grandmother always bakes her favorite cake for her birthday. They sent me the recipe and pictures. I made this special birthday cake and surprised the young woman and delivered it. It was awesome meeting her and hearing and seeing how happy they were. I have also been called because a young college student was having a terrible day, had been in the hospital and the mom couldn’t be here. She wanted to send a care package. I went shopping that day, kept the mom on the phone, showed her items in the store and she picked out things she knew her daughter would love. At the checkout, I sent her the total and she paid for it. I made some chocolate dipped strawberries, added them to the package and delivered it to cheer her up. Seeing her reaction and how happy she was…priceless to me. I believe God has given me the gifts and talents and heart that I have for a reason and I am supposed to share that with others. Any business that I get is from word of mouth from people that like what I do and want to support that. They know they will get quality homemade items from someone who cares and they can trust. They might not be picture perfect, magazine cover worthy, extravagantly decorated cakes, but they will be made personally for the recipient taking into consideration their likes, what’s going on in their lives, and how I can be of help. I have seen out of state parents taken advantage of and charged ridiculous prices to have things delivered to their kids and I want them to know not everyone is like that. I do what I do because I love it and I care. I am excited to meet new people, plan something personal with them and make their family member or someone special happy by cooking or baking for them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow, Tucson is truly amazing. There is so much to see and do out here, but it really depends on weather. Let’s say it’s during our best weather months, September through April or May. I would definitely take my friend to the Reid Park Zoo. Our zoo is beautiful and has so many different events throughout the year. It is reasonable and makes for a great outing. Then we would have a meal on the way home at Bottega Michelangelo, a restaurant that I have personally been dining at for over 20 years. The food, service and ambiance is always outstanding. One of the days we would definitely make a trip up Mount Lemmon and have reservations at the Lodge up there to spend a night. This is quite an incredible drive. In just a matter of two hours, it is possible to start out in the desert and drive through many different climates ending in a pine forest that is 20 to 30 degrees cooler than when you started. There are vistas to pull into to sightsee on the way up and take pictures. There are hiking trails, rock climbing, mountain biking activities. At the top there is a little town where you can enjoy shopping, restaurants, talking with the locals, etc. At night, the stargazing is phenomenal and you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors with a picnic. One of the days we could definitely have breakfast at the Luna Cafe, a delicious restaurant where Chef Xavier creates incredible homemade food that mixes his Mexican heritage with comfort food at its finest. If it’s a Wednesday, we can stay to watch a live cattle auction and get a real feel for the Southwest with the cowboys that are present at the Marana Stockyards. One of the days, we would have to head downtown to 4th Ave, Congress, etc. to walk around, look in the shops, eat at any one of the famous restaurants…way too many to even mention but El Charro is one of the oldest restaurants in a historic house that is over 100 years old. We could even take in a show at one of the theaters downtown or see what’s at the Tucson Convention Center, maybe a hockey game with our local team the Roadrunners. I would love it if my friend visited during softball season because I would take her to see the U Of A Wildcats at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium. When the gem show is in town, we could easily spend a day walking around there or the 4th Ave Street Fair that happens twice a year. The mountains and desert in Tucson are so beautiful. I would love to take a drive right before sunset through one of the scenic roads like through the Saguaro National Park, to watch the sunset and then stay to see the stars. Tucson is truly one of the most beautiful places to explore with so much history, culture, food and fun things to do. I think much more than a week is needed to really enjoy it, but that is at least a start!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I truly have so many people I am thankful for. My husband Charlie is super supportive and helps me very much. I wouldn’t be able to do this without his help. I have a very close group of friends that have always encouraged me and supported me. They have been by my side for years of church events, birthdays, fundraisers, etc. encouraging me to do something with my cooking and baking. Now they spread the word and tell others about what I do, which is the best kind of advertising. My one friend, Kristina, I will always be thankful for calling me about the Facebook group and thinking of me when she saw the need presented by out of state parents. The U of A has been great, they officially licensed me to use their logos on my baked goods and the Facebook pages have been very helpful and supportive. The parents I am meeting and helping from the U of A have been wonderful. I really enjoy meeting their kids and surprising them with homemade gifts. They make referrals about me and spread the word about what I have done for them. Of course my kids are my greatest cheerleaders, they taste test everything, cheer me on and give me great feedback. I have a brother here in Tucson, Joe. He is one of my biggest fans. He tells everyone about what I do and has referred me to local vendor events. Very good friends of mine, Xavier Luna and Leah Sanchez own the Luna Cafe in Marana and they showcase some of my desserts there, put out my business cards and tell their clients about me. They have been an incredible help to me. I am truly blessed and thankful for the people that I have helping me, supporting me and encouraging me!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085625573180&sk=about

Other: Homesweethomeazcats@gmail.com
516-458-0702