On the Job with Mona at Benevolence Farm

“I felt excited to start, but I also felt relieved that now I had a job that provided me with a sense of purpose after incarceration.”

Benevolence Farm is a social enterprise and residential reentry program in North Carolina that supports formerly incarcerated women as they rebuild their lives. Through paid employment, housing, and holistic support, women at the Farm craft small-batch, hand-poured candles and natural bath and body products — including signature soaps like Honeysuckle and Turmeric — that are rooted in healing and second chances. Every product tells a story of resilience, and every purchase helps create pathways to stability, dignity, and opportunity.

Mona arrived at the Farm in May 2022 after serving nearly five years in prison, uncertain about what came next but determined to reunite with her children and build something different. What she found was more than a job. She found mentorship, skill-building, and the confidence to grow — from mastering candle production and inventory management to developing her own soap creations and stepping into community advocacy.

In just a few short years, Mona reunited her family and secured full-time employment. Benevolence Farm provided the foundation — housing, employment, and unwavering belief in her potential — but Mona’s courage and vision carried her forward. Her story reminds us that meaningful employment isn’t just about work — it’s about restoration, opportunity, and the power of community.

Meet Mona:

How did you feel when you first landed this job?

"I felt excited to start, but also I felt relieved that now I had a job that provided me

with a sense of purpose after incarceration."

Tell us what your typical day on the job as a Community Advocacy Director looks like.

"I work in our body care workshop on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My

typical day starts at 9am. I welcome our participants to the start of the workday,

check orders online to see if we have anything to fulfill, manage current shelf

inventory, make products, supervise our part-time staff, and pack and ship orders. Our workday typically ends around 4 PM."

How has your future changed because of this job?

"My future has changed because I gained so many skills, like time management,

inventory, supervising, decision making, etc. All these are skills that I didn't have

before that I can use in the future professionally. Also, this job was a chance to

be a part of a greater purpose with assisting other individuals with their reentry

journey, which has changed me in a positive way."

What is your favorite item that you sell and why?

"My favorite item we sell is the healing salve because its a product that can be

used on anything,I personally use it to help with dry skin, specifically on the

bottom of my feet. I also love the honeysuckle and turmeric soap bar, a product

that I created personally based on my insecurities with stretch marks after giving

birth to three children."

What’s your favorite thing about working here?

"My favorite thing about working here is the support system and being able to help

someone else on their reentry journey."

What would you tell people considering buying your products?

"I would tell people that our products are amazing and I myself personally use

them, but its the mission behind the products is why they should purchase. So many

women are being released from prison every day with no resources or a place to live,

the revenue from our products go to support formerly incarcerated folks' employment

wages. Employment is a huge barrier for folks coming home so to have employment is

a foundation for so many formerly incarcerated folks to start their reentry journey."

Create your own remarkable guest experiences with Benevolence Farm's products

Mona's story offers a glimpse into the real impact behind the products guests experience every day — a reminder that thoughtful sourcing doesn’t just elevate hospitality, it helps create space for healing, stability, and renewed purpose.

Every gift placed in a guest room, every thoughtfully chosen amenity, and every product selected with intention supports women who are courageously building new chapters in their lives — one steady day at a time.

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