Like the e-commerce store Esty, Embrace Marketplace will also feature apparel, crafts, unique gifts and handmade items that people offer for sale. The difference? The newly founded Embrace Marketplace is exclusively open to vendors with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The creator of Embrace Marketplace is Berks County resident Ashlee Crater, 34, who has Down syndrome. She launched the website with the help of her family members, including her mother, Joan Crater, and sister, Kelsey Hartell. Currently, the website offers shirts, hoodies, water bottles, throw pillow covers and drawstring bags that include the phrase, "Accept. Include. Embrace."

"We started to work on (the idea) in early December," said Ashlee. "Our first order was in the middle of February."

Joan explained that Kelsey came up with the idea to form the marketplace because Ashlee's activities, which included working as a hostess and at the Reading Fightin Phils, were canceled because of the pandemic. "(Kelsey) was very concerned because Ashley had nothing to do because she likes to be active," she said. "(The pandemic) affected many people, but because she has a disability it is much harder to find work."

Joan said that the goal of the website is to promote inclusion and to provide a creative way to find employment for people with disabilities. According to http://www.embracemarketplace.com, "Embrace Marketplace envisions a world where everyone can participate in the workplace and contribute to society."

A portion of every item purchased at Embrace Marketplace is donated to Dayspring Homes Inc., a faith-based nonprofit organization near Shillington that assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"They have day programs and group homes. (Ashlee) has been a part of the day program since she was 21 years old," said Joan, noting that participants in the program take part in arts and crafts, gardening, reading and health and fitness activities. "Last year, they were working with her to learn CPR. They also do volunteer work in the community."

"We worked at the food bank and cleaned a church," Ashlee noted.

Since its launch, the company has sold more than $10,000 worth of apparel. On March 14, Ashlee presented her first donation to Stacy Grube, CEO of Dayspring Homes. "I wanted to help Dayspring Homes because they helped me," Ashlee said during the check presentation.

Ashlee and Joan are available to speak at local schools to talk about the message of inclusion and to discuss Embrace Marketplace. In March, Ashlee and her mom held a virtual session with teacher Candis Wiese's life skills class at Owen J. Roberts High School, where students were invited to ask Ashlee questions about her business.

For more information about Embrace Marketplace, including how to sell products on the site or to buy merchandise, visit http://www.embracemarketplace.com. More information is also available at http://www.facebook.com/embracemarketplace. Those who purchase apparel are encouraged to post photos of themselves wearing the items on the Facebook page.