Those who have lived with people with disabilities know too well the concerns about their future. Questions linger about what comes next after graduation or their future when you’re no longer around or able to help them. But the So Much To Give Inclusive Café has emerged as a beacon of hope and opportunity in Cedar, Pennsylvania. It empowers special needs youths by creating a welcoming place that appreciates their contribution and creates a space where they can work and thrive.
At the café, the experience transcends food and drink, celebrating the unique gifts everyone brings to the table.
How the idea of the inclusive café came to be
Maureen Stanko, a dedicated teacher, fitness instructor, and musician, has long been concerned about her son Nick’s future after graduation. Nick is on the autism spectrum, and she believes he has the potential to be a valuable contributor to society if given the right opportunities. In Pennsylvania, where individuals with disabilities can remain in school until the age of 22, Maureen saw a crucial gap in support for those transitioning out of the educational system.
“I was lying in bed one night at 3 a.m. I was thinking, ‘Oh man, what’s going to happen to him.’ You know? It’s like it’s coming, like impending now,” Stanko told CBS News.
She shared her worries with Nick’s therapist, Tyler Kammerle, who had a terrific concept about opening a restaurant to employ people with disabilities and give an inclusive dining experience. Stanko and Kammerle teamed up with philanthropist Kathy Oppermann, founder of the charity Pillars of Light and Love in Trappe, Pennsylvania. In early 2022, So Much To Give Inclusive Café was launched under Pillars of Light and Love.
The café had a soft opening in November 2022 to hone the experience of its exceptional employees as it served family and friends. It gradually adjusted its opening hours, and within two months, it was ready for the official opening in Cedars in January 2023!
An inclusive dining experience
As soon as it opened, the So Much To Give Inclusive Café received immense support from the community. The founders say they raised over US$150,000 for a state-of-the-art custom kitchen and over US$65,000 for an elevator to the second-floor dining area. A year later, in 2024, the company has about 65 employees, with 80 percent of them being people with disabilities. These special needs people work as greeters, food runners, servers, dishwashers, and sous chefs.
One beneficiary of this café is Lauren Oppelts, who is hearing impaired and works as a server and sign language teacher. In an interview with CBS, she expressed her enthusiasm about this opportunity.
“I mean, if you would ask me over a year ago, two years ago, that I would be a hostess, a server, I wouldn’t believe you. Because I have grown so much self-confidence,” she said. “A lot of these employees I’ve known since the beginning, and the growth I see in them is just mind-blowing.”
Also, Stanko was initially concerned that Nick wouldn’t fit in the café because of his neurodivergent disorder and extreme food allergies. But she has been pleasantly surprised by how well he has adapted. Nick now helps out at the café before it opens, setting up the tables and preparing for diners’ arrival.
“I brought him here on Wednesday because his school was closed, and he set this entire room up without me saying a word,” she said. “And the level of pride in him was just incredible.”
Everyone has so much to give
Stanko, Kammerle, and Opperman believe the café is not only a safe environment for employees with disabilities but also for other diners to feel valued and supported.
“We never even took Nick to a restaurant before this café opened. Because when we used to it wasn’t worth it. Because we would spend all this money to go out to eat to be completely stressed out,” Stanko said. “This café has taught Nick how to sit in a restaurant. Because now we have a place to go, where nobody cares if he stands up and starts hopping like a bunny, clapping, or yelling.”
Today, Stanko’s vision extends beyond the So Much To Give Inclusive Café. She launched the Inspiration Studio across the street, a space offering a range of classes, including music, life skills, and crafts, tailored for people with disabilities. In all this, she is grateful for her team’s dedication and her donors’ support.
Above all, Maureen Stanko initially set out to provide better opportunities for people like Nick but now concludes that “Everyone has so much to offer,” even if they have disabilities.
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