Shine Adams is the founder of a nonprofit company called Sun Cedar, which empowers at-risk members of the community in a continuing effort to provide them with meaningful paid employment.

After emptying his personal bank account to start a nonprofit business to employ the “unemployable,” Shine Adams’ dream is becoming a reality, thanks to a big boost from an online fundraising campaign.

“I’ve been spending my life’s savings on this,” Adams told the Journal-World six months ago, referring to his dream. “I believe in it. There’s no reason we couldn’t be a solvent, sufficient business and take care of our employees.”

Abraham White Weasel works on a cedar tree ornament at Sun Cedar.

Adams, a Lawrence Community Shelter employee and avid carpenter, last year established the nonprofit manufacturing business Sun Cedar in response to a conversation with a friend who had recently been released from prison. His friend was struggling to find work with his criminal history, so Adams hired him to help out in his carpentry shop.

The two appreciated the scent of cedar wood in Adam’s basement shop, and Adams saw an opportunity to employ others like his friend.

“Maybe I could start a business helping people who need jobs,” Adams said at the time.

They created all-natural tree-shaped air fresheners out of scraps of unwanted cedar wood and began selling their creations. They’d soon call the business “Sun Cedar” and employ about 12 at-risk community members — from felons to the homeless and recovering addicts — over the next year, Adams said.

Adams said he’s so-far paid for supplies and his employees out of his own pocket, draining any savings he once had. But to Adams, it was worth every penny. Several employees have successfully transitioned out of Sun Cedar, with one woman now notably working for the city’s transit system, Adams said.

“I don’t want that money back,” Adams said. “I believe in this and always have since day one with faith in doing something good.”

The scheme eventually paid off — Sun Cedar broke even with its expenditures for “a couple months” last year. Adams said that fostered a new sense of hope.

“When we broke even, that meant it was possible (to become a self-sustained business), not some crazy dream that wasn’t realistic,” Adams said.

On May 17, Sun Cedar launched a campaign seeking $35,000 on the online social fundraising website Kickstarter.com. Sun Cedar had one month to raise the goal amount, but if they couldn’t do it within the allotted time, all money pledges would be nullified, according to Kickstarter rules.

There were some nay-sayers, Adams said, disbelieving the basement startup business could pull in that amount of funding.

Others criticized with a not-in-my-backyard mindset, Adams said. One neighbor grew angry with Adams, he said, referring to his employees as “trash, junkies and criminals.” Adams said he thoroughly “vets” all his employees.

“The people I serve encounter that hatred daily,” Adams said. “This is an emotional thing.”

But over the past month, the numbers began to climb, with pledges of $1 to $1,000 from individuals and organizations across the world. Kickstarter.com featured Sun Cedar’s campaign as one of its “staff picks,” and last week, the national online magazine “Upworthy” published an article on the Lawrence business.

That’s when the pledges really started rolling in, Adams said. The campaign ended Wednesday with $41,700 in donations, exceeding its original goal by more than $6,000.

“I’ve had goosebumps all month,” Adams said. “I’ve never had such deep convictions in my life.”

Adams said the original $35,000 will go toward payroll, purchasing new tools and a new shop space (allowing Adams to reclaim his house), marketing and trade show attendance, legal fees to file with the federal government and registering intellectual property.

“Before the funding, I couldn’t afford more than two people with solid and consistent work,” Adams said. “The goal is to provide real, regular hours week-by-week (for employees).”

With the extra $6,700, Sun Cedar will purchase a new “safety saw,” which Adams said will give Sun Cedar “increased peace of mind and safety, and a decreased insurance premium.”

Sun Cedar is still raising “stretch goal” funds, aiming to grow the total to $50,000 through another fundraising website, Megafounder.com. With that money, Adams said Sun Cedar plans to purchase a laser engraver to expand the variety of products the business can produce and to attend even more trade shows, where they can get their air fresheners — and story — in front of wholesalers across the country.

With most pledges came orders. For example, a pledge of $10 got donors one air freshener and a thank-you card; a pledge of $500 brought 10 air fresheners, two drams of cedar oil, 10 handmade cedar hangers, a handmade cutting board, a Sun Cedar wall clock and an autographed photo of a Sun Cedar employee, according to the Kickstarter campaign.

Adams said Sun Cedar will be focusing on fulfilling orders before moving ahead with finding a new location for the shop. Until then, Sun Cedar’s band of employees given second-chances will keep working away in Adams’ home.

Sun Cedar’s products are available for order at sun-cedar.com/shop or by calling 913-370-2005. Those wishing to support Sun Cedar’s goal toward $50,000 can make a donation at Megafounder.com/sun-cedar.