HERKIMER, N.Y. — Arc Herkimer has received a $1,500 grant from Berkshire Bank for its new vocational initiative, Copper Café, set to open this spring. The café will be a training ground for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop restaurant and hospitality skills. Currently under development, the café will build job-readiness skills in […]
HERKIMER, N.Y. — Arc Herkimer has received a $1,500 grant from Berkshire Bank for its new vocational initiative, Copper Café, set to open this spring.
The café will be a training ground for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop restaurant and hospitality skills.
Currently under development, the café will build job-readiness skills in cooking, customer service, food safety, kitchen tech, and more to prepare individuals for employment at local eateries and other agency venues. When it opens in the spring, the café will also be open to the public, offering food and beverages at the Arc Herkimer Mall in Ilion.
“This grant, in conjunction with a year-end appeal to donors, has allowed us to build another quality partnership between Arc Herkimer and the local community,” said Lorene Bass, executive VP for support and services at Arc Herkimer. “We’ve been working diligently on the Copper Café to take shape and are excited to develop new, unique opportunities for people supported to learn and thrive.”