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By Erin Smith
The Knight’s Way Cafe began serving their first customers at West Bladen High School on Thursday. West Bladen Teacher Amy Schumacher declared the first day of operation for the Cafe a resounding success.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for Knight’s Way Cafe on Thursday, March 8, 2018, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
“We served about 45 teachers, staff and family members of school students. We are having the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. but the students needed to practice so the cafe opened Thursday, and will open again this coming Tuesday and Thursday. We will be offering cake and coffee to be purchased at the Ceremony,” said Schumacher.
Schumacher said she has six students who served as Baristas, Cashiers, Servers, and Delivery persons on Thursday. While students operate the cafe, Knight’s Way Cafe is not a business, but is actually an Occupational Lab to help students with disabilities to learn job skills.
“Miller’s Crew, a non-profit organization out of Cumberland County partnered with us and provided all the equipment for the cafe’. We raised money with fundraisers to purchase all the coffee’s, creamers, sugar, cups, stirrers, plates, napkins, etcetera,” said Schumacher.
Miller’s Crew is a non-profit group in Cumberland County which helps to provide job training for students with special needs. It was established by Terry Sanford soccer coach Karl Molnar and his wife, Kim Molnar, after their son, Miller, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The Knight’s Way Cafe will operate two days per week with help from Schumacher. The Cafe will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. for faculty and staff to utilize. Schumacher said the price of the coffee and muffins pays for the supplies to be replaced.
“This is a learning experience for my students,” said Schumacher. She added parents of students are welcome at the Cafe as well.
“Parents of students can come visit the cafe’ and support us by purchasing coffee and a muffin and we would love donations to grow the Occupational Lab and one day expand to offer other opportunities based on what the students in my class would like to do when they enter the adult world and begin working,” said Schumacher.
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