Partnership with Truist Bank

We're excited to announce that Matchstick Goods has been awarded a $5,000 Community Reinvestment Act mini-grant from Truist Foundation to support our youth employment program.

The grant will fund wages for our student employees, materials for ceramics production, and program coordination—the core elements that keep our studio running and our youth learning. For those unfamiliar with our work, Matchstick Goods employs North Lexington high school students to handcraft pottery, paying fair wages while building professional skills that extend far beyond the ceramics wheel.

Truist's grant priorities include workforce development, and that's exactly what we do. Our students learn pottery techniques, yes, but they also gain experience in customer service, product design, marketing, and business operations. They learn how to work on a team, communicate with supervisors, and meet production deadlines. These are skills that serve them regardless of where their careers lead.

What we appreciate about Truist's approach is the focus on creating pathways to economic mobility in underserved communities. This grant helps us continue offering something different: meaningful work, fair pay, and mentorship that prepares young people for what comes next.

Thank you to the Truist Foundation for the support and for recognizing the role that creative, hands-on work can play in workforce development. We're glad to have partners who share our commitment to North Lexington's young people.