KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When The Golden Scoop ice cream parlor opens up next January in Overland Park, Abi will be one of its "super scoopers."
And she already has her flavor of the month creation picked out: chocolate soufflé.
The flavor of the month is part of the parlor's founders to let store employees of the month create a flavor of the month.
“I’m super excited to meet all the customers and tell them to have a good day,” Abi said enthusiastically.
The Golden Scoop is a nonprofit which will give meaningful employment to people with developmental disabilities in order to mentor, inspire and equip them for success at work and in life.
“They can find out what their passion is and it will hopefully lead to other things in the community for these individuals,” Lindsay Krumbholz said.
She came up with this idea after spending the past 12 years working as an in-home behavioral therapist teaching life skills to people with developmental disabilities. Krumbholz said each of her clients’ parents had the same concern: where will their child work when they get older?
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows about 80 percent of people with a disability in the country are not in the labor force. The number hovers around 31 percent for people without a disability.
“There is a giant need,” Michelle Reeves, the director of culinary and creative at The Golden Scoop, said. “We haven’t even put out the call to hire ‘super scoopers’ and we have 15 that are employed.”
This week, the organization announced it will open its first storefront at 9540 Nall Ave., in the Sprouts strip center next to Orangetheory Fitness. But The Golden Scoop’s president said that is just the beginning. She’s planning to add a food truck, and at least five more brick and mortar locations around the metro.
“I envision the day that we open and all the customers coming in and being able to interact with our ‘super scoopers’ because we will be joyful and inclusive environment for not only our ‘super scoopers,’ but our customers as well,” Amber Schreiber, the president, said.
Schreiber admitted the organization needs donations to get off the ground. It launched a website and GoFundMe page where people can contribute money to help kickstart the program.
Several community partners have pledged their support. Hattie’s Fine Coffee in Prairie Village, Kansas, will create a special coffee blend sold only at The Golden Scoop. And Team Cura, a life-coaching organization, will collaborate with The Golden Scoop.
Reeves said ‘super scoopers’ will be involved in every aspect of the store’s operations: from designing the logo, to naming ice cream flavors, to running the cash register.
“This way we can figure out what really is their favorite thing to do so we can tailor the job to them,” Reeves explained. “These are individuals who might have to have a job coach or a peer model with them, but we have found they bring so much talent to the table.”
Abi and her friend Charlie are ready to bring their talents to the table. Charlie has already predicted he’ll work at the store everyday. And Abi plans to use her paychecks to buy a plane ticket to South Korea to visit her brother who is currently teaching English to students there. She is thankful for the opportunity Krumbholz, Schreiber and Reeves are creating.
“I love every single one of these persons,” Abi said. “They’re so sweet and honest. And I love their attitude. It’s so awesome.”
The hardest part will be waiting until January.
”It’s been a dream of mine for many years. I’m excited to make it a reality,” Krumbholz said.
For more information about The Golden Scoop, click here.
