Nolan Stilwell, William Mullican IV and Eric Hernandez cut strawberries and peppers to make Texas Sweet Heat Jam with help from Christine Stilwell. (Daniel Schwalm/Community Impact)
For 15 years, Leander-based Texas Sweet Heat Jam has been making unique and delicious jams for a cause that customers and employees alike can be proud of.
The backstory
The label of each jar of the company’s jam describes founder Nolan Stilwell as “a culinary artist, avid gardener and a native Texan, who happens to have Down syndrome.” Nolan started Texas Sweet Heat Jam in 2011 with the help of his parents, Christine and Randy.
The company got its start when Nolan wanted to join his high school’s culinary program, but was unable to. Nolan and his parents decided to create their own opportunity instead, and over the last 15 years, their company has grown to provide similar opportunities for many more young people with disabilities.
The Stilwell family lived in Katy, Texas, at the time, and Texas Sweet Heat Jam was based there until Hurricane Harvey forced them to move, Christine Stilwell said. Texas Sweet Heat Jam is now based out of the commercial kitchen at Life Church in Leander, which allows Nolan Stilwell and his team to use the space for free.
Texas Sweet Heat Jam sells more than a dozen different handcrafted varieties of spicy jam, as well as barbecue sauce and mustard. (Daniel Schwalm/Community Impact)
What they offer
Texas Sweet Heat Jam sells more than a dozen different flavors of jam that combine sweet fruit flavors with a spicy jalapeño kick, as well as mustard and barbecue sauce. Each jar is handcrafted by a small team of dedicated employees.
Their jams have been sold in several H-E-B stores ever since the company was a finalist in the 2014 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best. Currently, a handful of flavors are available in H-E-Bs across the northern Austin metro area. The full range of Texas Sweet Heat Jam products is available online, and the company sells its jams in a variety of gift shops around the country as well.
Every year, Texas Sweet Heat Jam challenges its employees to create a new flavor. This year, a new fig balsamic jalapeño flavor will go in their holiday gift boxes.
Texas Sweet Heat Jam founders (clockwise from top left) Christine, Nolan and Randy Stilwell pose with employees Eric Hernandez, William Mullican IV and Chrystal Urias. (Daniel Schwalm/Community Impact)
Why it matters
Texas Sweet Heat Jam’s mission is to provide meaningful employment for adults with intellectual disabilities.
The company’s employees are a tight-knit group of friends who love to spend time together both on and off the clock, Christine Stilwell said.
“I love Sweet Heat because I love making jam!” said Texas Sweet Heat Jam employee William Mullican IV. “Nolan is my best friend. We have fun at work!”
Employee Chrystal Urias has worked for Texas Sweet Heat Jam for about five years. She said the job has helped her to become more independent as a young adult.
“I told my life coach, ‘I like being in the kitchen,’ and she was like, ‘I think I know a place for you.’ And this was it,” Urias said. “Ever since then, I’ve been here. I love it.”
Texas Sweet Heat Jam employee Chrystal Urias labels a jar of jam. (Daniel Schwalm/Community Impact)
Texas Sweet Heat Jam also offers a three-month internship program for young adults with disabilities looking to gain the skills needed to apply for other jobs in the food industry.
“When somebody comes through here, they’re not only leaving with a food handler certificate and a letter of recommendation,” Christine Stilwell said, “but also the skills and the confidence that they can go out there and do these jobs.”
Nolan Stilwell and his team sum up their positive attitude and sense of humor with their joking slogan for the jam:
