By Joe Guastella
Celebrating our third season on LBI! Come visit us for a great cup of coffee and more, May 16 through September 14 at The Sea Shell Resort in Beach Haven Monday through Thursday 7 am to 11 am.
Actually, our organization is not only a paid part-time summer employment opportunity for special needs young adults — a lot happens during the off-season.
We have been busy with:
• Baking and donating our very own homemade dog treats to the Ocean County Animal Shelter. BTW: These awesome treats are always for sale at the Café.
• Cupid’s Challenge Valentine’s Day 5K Run.
• Peer-to-peer volunteer training at Ss. Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Roseland, New Jersey.
• Indoor pool party at St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church in Brant Beach.
• Hiring and training events at First United Methodist Church in Beach Haven Terrace.
• Lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.
• Arcade Day
The gang was busy this spring rehearsing for our own stage version of High School Musical which we performed at The Stafford Township Arts Center Manahawkin on May 3.
We’ve Got Talent! So, if you enjoy song, dance, poetry, trivia, gabbing, and smiling, keep an eye out for our gang’s weekly talent offerings at Compassion Café during our hours of operation at The Sea Shell Resort.
The above events and so much more are made possible by the tireless efforts of our volunteers and generous donors. Many thanks to them all!
Compassion Café Fun Fact: The age range of our present staff is between 17 and 44 years old.
Compassion Café seeks the integration of teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through paid part-time summer employment in a small coffee shop environment with free hands-on training and ongoing support in an atmosphere of joy, community, love, and unconditional acceptance. By providing meaningful employment our employees gain independence, self-confidence, and work skills for future success. Compassion Café is a 501(c)(3) partnering with local businesses in a true, non-profit model.
Follow us on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM @compassioncafeLBI.
