The Pop In Café: It’s All About Community:
The Pop in Café was inspired by Shirley Bier, the late grandmother of Samuel Bier, a young man with Autism. Shirley was a consummate cook who would spend countless hours with her grandson, connecting over new recipes. Shirley created a community table where everyone was welcome to join and share. There was always someone in need; whether a teenager who had just lost a parent or an adult who had financial trouble. The concept was simple. EAT WELL and DO GOOD.
The Pop In Café is an inclusive café located in the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick New Jersey that offers a variety of sandwiches, Liege Belgian waffles, coffee, artisanal popcorn, beverages and snacks to mall patrons.
It is a place where all members of the community can interact, share a meal and support those in need. The Pop In Café is also a unique entrepreneurial venture-a social enterprise -where 100% of profits from the café are used to fulfill the mission of Let’s Work for Good:
- Raises awareness about the employment crisis for adults with disabilities in our communities.
- Provides real employment in an actual café style setting with hands-on training that adults can transfer to other employment opportunities.
- Creates a nurturing work environment that encourages success.
- Demonstrates that adults with disabilities can work in our communities and successfully fill needed jobs.
- A source of revenue, social opportunity and community engagement for adults.
- Dispels myths about work possibilities for those with disabilities.
- Creates a meeting place where all members of the community can feel welcome
- TRANSITION JOB TRAINING at the
The Transition Job Training Program is a program developed by Lets Work For Good in collaboration with local high school special education programs. The program allows young adults with Autism or other Developmental Disabilities to begin job training while enrolled in high school. In our integrated workplace setting, students with developmental disabilities work alongside their peers and develop skills that will enable them to succeed in the competitive workplace. The goal is to offer trainees paid positions in the Pop In Café or competitive employment settings after graduation from high school.
- JOB TRAINING at the
The Pop In Café creates a therapeutic environment where all members can develop social communication skills and self-confidence for independent employment. It provides training for Adults with Autism and Developmental Disabilities in the areas of food sampling, food preparation, packaging, order fulfillment and sales, Trainees interact with coworkers and customers in a supportive atmosphere. Our program also allows the community to experience the talents of our workers and changes public perception about the capabilities of those with disabilities
- EMPLOYMENT at the
The Pop In Café offers employment to adults with Autism and Developmental Disabilities who have completed the training program and can work independently. Part and full time employment positions are available as some adults have gained the confidence and skills to pursue further education in culinary schools or college.
The graduates of our job training program can also serve as peer mentors in the job training program.
- VOLUNTEER at the
The Pop In Café offers community members the opportunity to share their expertise talents and passion High school students can earn community services hours. Family members and service providers can develop new skills while furthering our mission.
Pop In Cafe
Telephone: 732-390-0938
Address: Brunswick Square Mall
755 State Route 18
East Brunswick NJ 08816
Facebook: The Pop In Cafe