“People aren’t just doing business anymore. They’re looking for where to invest back in their communities. That’s what SNAP helped me build—a business that’s more than a business.”
ANDREA, Owner – Adorkable Flowers & Gifts & SNAP Client
ANDREA’S STORY: ROOTED IN RESILIENCE, BLOOMING IN COMMUNITY
LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — When Andrea left the Marine Corps in 2013, she didn’t set out to open a flower shop. She just knew she didn’t want to work for someone else. “I wanted to explore college—I had earned that opportunity,” she said. She found herself in a greenhouse management course, something completely opposite from her military experience. But it stuck.
“I gave it a go. And it grew into something I never expected.”
Adorkable Flowers & Gifts—a name born from her high school nickname—started as a dream and became a healing place. First a business license in 2014. Then a brick-and-mortar storefront in 2016. Then a pandemic. And still, she kept going.
“It’s an honor to honor people,” Andrea says. And that’s what she does with every bouquet. She sees the way people pause when they see a certain flower, the way scent brings back memories of mothers, grandfathers, and weddings. “Flowers carry memory. They center you in a moment of love.”
Running a business, however, has carried its own challenges. When an accountant mishandled her books, Andrea was left navigating cleanup that made accessing a loan nearly impossible. That’s when a friend pointed her to SNAP Financial Access (SFA). What she found wasn’t just business coaching, it was a lifeline.
“They didn’t just hand me resources. They connected me to people, people who cared. They walked with me through the weeds.”
SFA helped Andrea audit and rebuild her website to better reflect her clientele. With their workshops and support, Andrea deepened her expertise—not just in floristry, but in the business side of her work—surrounded by peers on similar journeys. “Going to those business functions and hearing other people say, ‘Yeah, I’m going through that too’—it changed everything.”
Through SFA, Andrea gained the tools and confidence to pivot. When she moved locations in January, she flipped her business model entirely—keeping her core floral business but transitioning her gift shop to feature locally made products like beard balms, body butters, and a local card line. She’s added a weekend flower market and dreams of hosting flower arranging and terrarium workshops for kids and adults alike.
“This is still a place for healing,” Andrea says. “For others, and for me. I get to bring my daughter Karoline here. I get to show up. To serve this community.”
And serve she does—not only through flowers, but by lifting up fellow entrepreneurs. “That’s one of the fun things about learning all the things I’ve learned at SNAP—I can pass that along. I share it with everyone I can,” she says. “I helped a gentleman who works for UPS get a business license. I sat with him, showed him how to build a business model, create income statements, all of it.”
She tells people not to spend thousands a month on private business coaching when so much is accessible through SFA. “You do realize there’s access to the same things they’re telling you—for free,” she says. “Follow the chain. Share what we know.”
Andrea’s journey—from Marine Corps veteran to entrepreneur to mentor—is rooted in determination, but deeply nourished by connection. She continues to give back through volunteer efforts and by helping other aspiring business owners find their footing. And she’s honored to be included in community moments that matter—like the ceremony honoring Mayor Cris Kaminskas for bringing the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline to Liberty Lake patrol cars.
“People aren’t just doing business anymore. They’re looking for where to invest back in their communities. That’s what SNAP helped me build—a business that’s more than a business.”
We would appreciate your support as we provide opportunities to people in need.