Candy for a cause: Oil City boy helps autistic brother with vending machine business

A seven-year-old boy from Oil City is using sweets to help support his older, severely autistic brother.

Titus Eddy, 7, created the idea of Sweet T Enterprises, a new family-run business that has been going around the Erie and Oil City regions placing candy vending machines. This business adventure began on in 2023 when Titus received his first machine for Christmas.

The machines are filled with different candies from Skittles to gumballs.

Titus saved up for a year about $700 from doing chores around the house to purchase the machines.

As the machines profit, he can purchase more machines and make more profit to benefit his brother Robby.

“I put him to work around the house,” Robert Eddy, Titus Eddy's father said. “He saved his money for about a year and a half, so he purchased two additional machines and the product and then he had three machines in operation. A few days ago, we had a family meeting where we decided to loan him some money so he could buy seven more machines. So, he has 10 and we’re going to give that a go for the first year.”

With his money, Titus is fulfilling his dream of becoming the next big candy vendor of the area.

“He has big dreams,” Robert Eddy said. “He wanted to get a big vending machine and a claw machine. I told him, 'Hold up, buddy, let’s take baby steps. You’ve got a gumball machine already, how about you buy a couple more as you can afford it and we’ll grow from there.' We had to step him back a bit because he’s ready to be a vending king. He just turned seven.”

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These big dreams come from his heart as Titus has a goal in mind with his profits.

“What are you going to do with your money?" Titus' mother Heather Eddy asked. “He said he is going to take Robby to Thomas Town.”

Thomas Town is a section of Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh where kids can ride a life-sized Thomas The Tank train engine.

“Titus does want to genuinely give back to his brother and make up for (the fact) that Robby doesn’t have any income,” Robert Eddy said. "He’s like, 'Who’s going to pay for Robby to go to Thomas Land or Waldameer or Disneyland?' He wants to pay his brother’s way."

His brother is 12 years old, yet Titus at times finds himself being the big brother because of how he looks out for his brother.

How does a 7-year-old understand the logistics of business?

Titus may be 7, but he is immersed in the language of business through his parents.

Heather Eddy works in transportation for the Oil City School District, while Robert Eddy raises Doberman Pinschers at home.

“I’ve raised my kids knowing what the bills are,” Heather Eddy said. “Knowing what interest is, what passive income is."

Titus got his machines online and from a vendor in upstate New York whom the parents met on social media.

The vendor has more than 800 machines and sold the Eddy's several of his older machines for $175 each. The Eddy's also purchased three machines off of Amazon for $350 each.

When Titus goes to a business to sell his machines, he comes prepared with a contract in hand. Businesses keep 10% of the profit or have the option to donate their share.

In the contract, Titus will clean his machines and shows that he is licensed. The family has gone to city halls and court houses to discuss and learn the legalities of the business idea.

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You can find his machines at multiple businesses, including Noe' Noonan School of Cosmetology at 5739 West Ridge Road, Chris’ Tire Service at 136 Felmlee Lane in Seneca and multiple businesses in the Franklin business district.

A machine will soon be coming to Razor’s Edge in Franklin at 314 W. Parker St., along with a couple of toy stores in the area.

“We’re going to need more machines, buddy,” said Robert Eddy.

Sweet T Enterprises can be contacted at 814-394-0235. A Facebook page is in the works as well.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Oil City PA boy, Sweet T Enterprises use vending machines for a cause