Na Na’s Cotton Candy Kloudz now open outside Lewes

Making good on her personal mission to improve the lives of parents with special needs children, Gia Love has opened Na Na’s Cotton Candy Kloudz on Route 1 outside Lewes.

Located in the parking lot of Midway Assembly of God, Na Na’s is an organic cotton candy enterprise aimed to fund Love’s nonprofit organization called Run Saniyah Run. The nonprofit is named after her non-verbal special needs daughter Saniyah, who died in July 2020, a month shy of 12th birthday.

“She had multiple issues, but she was the liveliest little girl,” said Love. “She was full of life, and I know that she’s living her best life now.”

Love said after her daughter died, she made it her mission to help other parents of children with special needs. Life as a parent with a child that has special needs is already stressful, and sometimes other things can pile up while taking care of that child, she said.

“That’s what we do. We can find ways to help parents through the foundation’s network,” said Love.

She chose the cotton candy avenue because it was one of the few food items her daughter liked. A lot of special needs kids have sensory issues, and Saniyah liked cotton candy, Love said.

“Her eyes just lit up the first time she tried it, and it was easy for her to eat,” said Love.

She also went organic in response to her daughter having a negative reaction to some of the chemicals in traditionally made cotton candy.

“I was like a mad scientist trying to figure out the best recipe,” said Love, laughing. “There were a lot of batches.”

Offering more than 30 flavors, Love said there’s a $10 donation request for the cotton candy, all of which goes to the foundation.

In addition to the cotton candy, Love has toys for kids to play with on site while parents enjoy a few moments of relaxation.

Love tried to get the shed installed in the parking lot near Walmart, but that didn’t work out. Instead, she ended up reaching out to the officials at Midway Assembly of God because it didn’t seem like their parking lot on Route 1 was being used too much during the week. They were immediately receptive and happy to provide some space, she said.

“I was meant to be here,” she said, adding that a couple of weeks into her venture the crowds had been good. “It’s been like the Chick-fil-A drive-thru.”

Looking forward, Love said she has plans to open a cotton candy stand in each county.

“I want to get it done right here first and then open more,” she said. “That’s my mission – to help as many families in Delaware as possible.”

For now, the hours of operation are noon to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Love also has a for-profit arm of her cotton candy-making business, where she offers catering services, cotton candy cakes and cotton candy bombs infused with edible glitter that dissolve in drinks. She can be contacted through her website about those services.

For details on Na Na’s Cotton Candy Kloudz, 34677 Old Postal Lane, go to RunSaniyahRun.org, nanascandykloudz.com or call 302-827-3380.