BLOOMINGTON, ILL – October 17, 2022 – The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is proud to support YWCA McLean County’s non-profit organization, Labyrinth Made Goods (LMG), makers of 100% soy candles. ISA’s custom LMG candles made their debut at the June 1 open house celebrating ISA’s new Lombard office, garnering positive feedback from attendees who received them.
This partnership aligns with ISA’s commitment to sustainable soybean production and farmer profitability, paired with the ability to support an important community resource. YWCA’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities by offering a variety of programs and services. LMG empowers women who have experienced incarceration to develop real-life business skills through developing and marketing their candles.
“We love that we got to help share the experience of our 100% soy candles, made right here in central Illinois, with an organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of soy,” says Kate Brunk, Director of YWCA’s Labyrinth Made Goods.
LMG’s candles are created using 100% soy wax and custom scents. LMG’s candles are made solely of soy wax to diminish negative environmental impact and ensure their product is entirely sustainable.
The organization works with Heartland Candles, which is located on a farm just outside of Ashkum, Illinois. To make soy wax, the soybeans must be cleaned, cracked, and pressed into an oil. From there, the oil goes through a hydrogenation process where the fatty acids in the oil are saturated, changing the melting point of the oil so that it is solid at room temperature.
“ISA is excited to partner with a local organization making sustainable soy-based products and creating products with such meaning to those that create the candles, and to those that receive,” says ISA Director of Communications Rachel Peabody. “We’re honored that soy can play a small part in the LMG mission.”
To learn more about Labyrinth Made Goods or to support their vision by purchasing a candle, visit https://labyrinthmadegoods.com.
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org and www.ilsoygrowers.com.
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