Kyla Daniels and Arti Sham: two businesswomen giving back during pandemic
Cakes By Kyla and Rajshahi Indian Restaurant have been trading strongly during COVID-19. And they are making a point of giving back.
Central Coast
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It all started with a $100 dinner giveaway and now locals are in with a shot of more than $10,000 worth of prizes thanks to the generosity of Central Coast businesses.
Popular cakemaker Kyla Daniels has been spearheading the local business push to support essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She posted online about a $100 “Dinner on Us” giveaway in mid-April and, such was the interest from other local businesses wanting to jump on-board, she is waiting on a gaming license for her Essentials 4 Essentials giveaway.
“It’s been mind-blowing,” Mrs Daniels said.
Mrs Daniels is known for her willingness to support local community initiatives. She is a participant in this year’s Cancer Council NSW – Stars of the Central Coast fundraiser, which culminates in her performing on stage at Laycock Street Community Theatre later this year. She has also joined forces with Rotary Club of Gosford City for a 10-week Cupcake Collaboration, whereby 60 cupcakes are being delivered weekly to different workers on different days and different shifts at Gosford Hospital.
Mrs Daniels has combined her community support with the continued success of her business, which has sold more than 175,000 cupcakes across three years at its Watt Street location.
Such has been its success – business is up more than 25 per cent on this time last year – she is about to announce a move to larger Gosford premises to allow her to expand.
Not a bad effort for someone who was told that setting up shop in Gosford would not work.
“We were told we were crazy; we were told not to go to Gosford but we saw the potential in it,” Mrs Daniels said.
One of the first local business people to put their hand up to support Cakes By Kyla’s Essentials 4 Essentials giveaway was Arti Sham from Rajshahi’s Indian Restaurant.
She is the second generation to run the Wyoming-based family business, which was already takeaway and delivery focused before COVID-19 and has been doing well during the recent restrictions.
She has made a point of giving back to the community by supporting other local businesses. She paid $1000 to Activate Foods, Erina, to provide food packages to charity organisation Soul Soup and bought $500 of hot meals from Hotel Gosford for Soul Soup, with Hotel Gosford matching the donation for a total of 82 meals. She has also bought morning teas for essential workers and supported Shoebox Revolution during COVID-19.
“My father became a chef to feed people and he always said to me that if you ever have the means to help the community, you should,” Ms Sham said.
“Before COVID the restaurant did not have enough funds to help the community. Our customers have kept our doors open and I owe it to the community to give back.”
Rajshahi’s is expanding its kitchen due to its continued popularity, which has seen customers willingly waiting up to two hours for their deliveries on occasions due to demand.