Mandy and Nic were both unhappy with their corporate jobs when they met in Sydney, Australia. Mandy grew up here in the Ohio Valley, but she had been working in New York City and Nic had lived in Australia his entire life. Mandy had no idea how much her trip down under was going to change her life.

In addition to falling in love, Mandy and Nic also found a mutual desire to leave the world of big business behind and strike out on their own. What was created from their shared passion was Bug + Bean Kids. They both left their jobs to take on the challenge of running a small business to service the parents and children in Mandy’s childhood home, the Ohio Valley. Starting with a small display in the corner at Stalder’s Family Creamery, they opened a brick-and-mortar retail location before COVID-19 hit. During the shutdown, they continued to offer their products on social media and at www.bugandbeankids.com.

Bug + Bean Kids focus on modern design, sustainable practices, and eco-friendly products for both children and parents to benefit from. More than ever parents want to ensure their children have a beautiful environment and world to grow up in (Mandy and Nic included). With that in mind, they have produced and curated products from artisans, small batch manufacturers, and brands with values similar to our own all with an eye for design and detail.

They offer a variety of quality apparel for children ages 0-6 years and accessories for babies, toddlers, and kids that are made to last. Handmade wooden toys and cute plush toys can be found all around the store. There is even an assortment of baby gifts including bottles, pacifiers, teethers, memory books, and much more. Bug + Bean Kids has all the items a growing family needs to help build a happy home. Located at 301 N. Main St in New Martinsville, right beside Stalder’s Family Creamery, Bug + Bean is open and ready to serve you x -x Monday thru Sometime. With a helpful staff ready to help satisfy your family’s needs, Mandy and Nic would like to invite you to stop by today!

“America loves children and babies” is a national declaration. While we take great pride in that declaration, there continues to be those who routinely fall through the cracks. The Gabriel Project is a national organization that works tirelessly to fill that gap. (http://www.gabrielproject.org)     The Gabriel Project of West Virginia has dedicated more than two decades of service to our smallest citizens and their families! In our immediate areas, The Gabriel Project helps families with children birth to 3. Among those served are Wetzel and Tyler counties in WV and Monroe County in OH. If you are not familiar with this extraordinary agency, read their history in West Virginia:    “The Gabriel Project of West Virginia began in the mid-1990s with a group of women in Wheeling who were concerned for the welfare of low-income women and children in their community. Looking for a more comprehensive way to serve those in need, this group of women expanded their grassroots efforts and formally incorporated the Gabriel Project in 1997. From this humble beginning, the Gabriel Project spread rapidly across the state. Today the Gabriel Project serves needy families in over 26 counties in the state through two chapters and local sites under the overall direction of a state office. Our two chapters coordinate client services within a specific geographic area and oversee Gabriel Project sites in churches and other facilities. Chapters are located in Wheeling and in Charleston. Client services are also provided in Fayette County under the auspices of the State Office in Charleston. In 2022 we are proudly celebrating 25 years of serving needy families with young children. We estimate that over the past two decades since our founding there has been nearly 50,000-client service visits to local Gabriel Project sites. The Gabriel Project of West Virginia is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by its own community board of directors. Our organization is faith-based, but ecumenical. We are not affiliated with any particular religious denomination or national organization. We do not evangelize and we do not attempt to influence legislation. All our services are provided without discrimination”. (source: http://www.gabrielwv.org).