Take a Break: The Muffin Man
Saving the World, One Muffin at a Time
Do you know the muffin man?
I do. His real name is Thaddeus Pinckney and he lives in Schenectady.
He doesn't live on Drury Lane, but he has some store-bought street signs around his house.
Thad, as he calls himself, has been the self appointed muffin man for the past 8 years since he first started his baking business.
Luvins Muffins.
There's no brick and mortar bakery behind this muffin man though.
"We actually have an internet presence," Thad says.
Most of his baking happens at home. When he first got started, his target audience was a captive one.
Literally.
"We were selling to prisons in Kentucky."
He has since expanded to non-felons and has developed a big fan base. He's huge in California and Maine. But only recently have folks in the Capital Region discovered his delicacies.
And he's got an interesting take on why that might be.
"In this area," he says, "we're finally getting known and we're getting known for giving."
Like any businessman, Thad has to make money to keep the ovens fired up, but he's almost more concerned about what he can give away.
"We support Salvation Army, Hope in the Boat, Sisters Inc of HVCC, and other nonprofits."
It's not money Thad's handing out. No, his donations require more special ingredients.
"They're made with love."
He makes a practice of giving away as many pies and muffins as he sells, if not more. From now through Thanksgiving, for every pie that's purchased, Thad's donating the same pie to the food pantry of the buyer's choice.
Sort of a "buy one, give one" deal.
His generosity lasts all year long though, and not just for organizations.
"If people are watching this story," he was asked, "and someone has fallen on hard times, lost a job or whatnot, they can get on your site and say 'I hate to ask for help but...?'"
"I'll show up at the door," he answers. "Even in some cases, I've sent to Arizona to specially help that person as well."
To give like thad does takes a toll on one's bottom line.
But this muffin man is conerned about more than just making dough.
"My goal is to go down in history as the muffin man that cared about others. And oddly enough, people like that."
If you want to check out the muffin man online, here's the link:
