Creating Jobs. Creating Hope.

By Steve Schwartz, Executive Director

“If you’ve ever seen the look on somebody’s face the day they finally get a job…they look like they could fly…it’s about respect, it’s about looking in the mirror and knowing that you’ve done something valuable with your day. And if one person could start to feel this way, and then another person, and then another person, soon all these other problems may not seem so impossible.”

That’s a quote from the character named Dave in the 1993 movie by the same name. In Dave, Kevin Kline’s character runs an employment agency.

I thought of this line from the movie when I walked into Hope Served Café this morning, right at 8 a.m., Monday morning.

Ciana greeted me with: “I love working here! It is so fun! I love meeting people and talking with people.” In January Ciana told me her dream for 2026 was to work for Hope Served. Now that dream is a reality. And her excitement is infectious.

Each weekday morning, from 8 a.m. – 12 noon, you can get a cup of our specialty grade Hope Served Coffee. Or a latte, macchiato, or London fog. Add a breakfast boli or muffin and your morning is off to a great start. The smiles are free.

And that morning routine? It’s helping to create jobs AND create hope.

Working at Hope Served has been a bright spot for Ciana and also for Dustin, who is learning to run the cash register and handle money. Dustin greets customers with a big smile and likes serving coffee, especially to guests he knows. He has a lot of friends who stop by including his grandparents, who live in the same building as the café on the campus of Pleasant View Communities.

Elliott likes that the staff are kind and like to joke around a bit, without being mean. He is getting practice talking to people and learning their favorite coffee as he also learns the cash register. He likes serving people who come to the café, but his favorite thing? “Getting a paycheck!” Don’t we all like that!

Fewer than 25% of employers report employing individuals with disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Employers often cite concerns about work performance, social dynamics, or cost—concerns that research consistently finds are largely unfounded. 59% of employers reported no related costs, and 92% of Human Resources managers reported that employees with disabilities performed as well as or better than their peers.

What these employers don’t realize is they are missing out on a significant untapped workforce, filled with individuals who are often loyal, hard-working, and joyful. We know this, because we see it first hand at our café. Perhaps Annie, another one of our baristas, said it best: “Hope Served Café is a great place to work. It’s helping me to learn and grow, to build confidence, and prepare for the next chapter ahead. I love being a part of the community.”

Your support, by stopping by for a cup of coffee or by donating to our work, is creating jobs AND hope for individuals with disabilities.

Hope Served Café is open to the general public at 2100 Town Square, Manheim, PA.

To support by donating, send a one-time gift or the first gift of your monthly partnership to Hope Served, 201 W. High Street, Manheim, PA 17545 or online at hopeserved.org/give.