The gourmet popcorn store was started with less than $100 in 2018 by Ben and Joy Robinson as they started making popcorn at home in Holland. There were trying times along the way as they went door to door and raised more than $10,000 and survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but now you can find Robinson’s Popcorn at J&H Family Stores and at West Michigan Whitecaps games. Among its employees are the Robinsons’ children, Stella, Irene, Pamela, and Ethan.
Whether it’s behind the counter or in the kitchen, each member of the Robinsons adheres to the family motto: “Everybody has a job.” At 3 years old, Ethan was standing at the door telling people “Hey, come see what’s popping!” At 5, he was sweeping floors.
Daughters Stella, Irene, and Pamela help with the recipes and flavors. They also could be found scooping popcorn and running the register at 9 years old and learned how to make caramel at 12.
Ben and Joy Robinson and children Stella, Irene, Pamela, and Ethan of Robinson’s Popcorn.
Amid helping their parents at the popcorn shop, all four attend an online virtual school in PrepNet Virtual Academy that gives them the same workload they would otherwise have from a brick and mortar school while also giving them time to pitch in during a break of after their studies are complete.
“We appreciate the opportunity to have our children go to a school that helped them with their education at their pace,” Ben said. “It’s very beneficial. It made it fun and relaxing and doable.”
Before starting at PrepNet Virtual Academy in January, the Robinson kids were home schooled, as their parents sought to give them an education rooted in Moral Focus virtues.
“We are grateful for the family dynamic,” Ben said. “They enjoy the fact that it’s like home school but it’s not, because they can interact with students.”
PrepNet Virtual Academy’s approach to teaching empathy and kindness in its curriculum goes hand-in-hand with Robinson’s Popcorn standing in the community. They have organized events such as the Black Owned Business Showcase and United We Sell, both of which attracted more than 100 vendors under message of “love thy neighbor.”
The hard work and compassion are paying off, as bigger things are in store for the Robinsons. The family is waiting for a callback from “Shark Tank” after auditioning for the TV show in New York. And when children return to PrepNet Virtual Academy in the fall, a second Robinson’s Popcorn location is set to open at 2273 44th Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Great job, Robinson family!
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About PrepNet Virtual Academy
PrepNet Virtual Academy is a tuition-free, online public charter school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, virtually serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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