New endeavor \u2018very rewarding,\u2019 caf\u00e9 chef says<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Body<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DUNCAN \u2014<\/strong> Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers at the hospital, the fire department, several businesses around the downtown area and many Duncan residents. Having the caf\u00e9 was one of our dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So far, one person with a disability works at the caf\u00e9 but that number will increase after the staff learns the system so they can pass that knowledge on to other employees, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garden Caf\u00e9 is part of Think Ability\u2019s overall vocational program that includes The Community Market, Adult Day Center, The Community Garden, and Power Print. Think Ability also provides janitorial services for 19 buildings including the State Capitol through the State Use Program for employing individuals with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think Ability Inc. is a multiservice nonprofit organization that also provides residential services and independent living support services for people with intellectual, cognitive and other related developmental disabilities. The administrative office is located in Duncan and the service delivery area includes communities throughout southern Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The caf\u00e9, located on the second floor of 805 W. Main St., has 17 tables which are almost full each day of the week. Garden Caf\u00e9 chef Chris Cody, who has 15 years of kitchen experience, said the time spent prepping for the opening and now serving customers \u201chas been awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love it,\u201d Cody said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arter complimented Cody\u2019s ability work the employees with disabilities and prepare good-tasting food for the customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s done a great job,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very understanding and accepting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As with any major new endeavor, Arter said the caf\u00e9 project has been a labor of love, but very tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI go to bed achy,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I get the warm and fuzzies when I think about the good we\u2019re doing and the people who will benefit from this. That\u2019s what puts me to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The menu has a variety of food which includes soups, sandwiches, salad bar, loaded baked potatoes, treats and kids\u2019 menu. The caf\u00e9 is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think Ability offers more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Included in the downtown building is The Garden Market on the first floor and a third-floor ballroom that is rented for weddings, meetings, family reunions and other large gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other programs operated by Think Ability is a commercial print shop, Community Garden, a Farm-to-Table program, and a School-to-Work initiative. All total, Think Ability\u2019s programs educate people with disabilities and employs more than 100 residents with disabilities. The Community Garden, which recently added a greenhouse, started three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think Ability also operates a Litter Crew that covers Comanche and Stephens counties. The crews pick up litter along the roadways as part of a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In addition, Think Ability places residents for outside employment at Wendy\u2019s, Braum\u2019s, McDonald\u2019s and Duncan Regional Hospital, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe find a way to adapt their job to fit their abilities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018An Evening with Neal McCoy\u2019 benefit concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n All the Think Ability programs take money and fundraising is a key component of the nonprofit\u2019s plan. As a result, Think Ability will host a benefit concert Friday, April 28 at the Stephens County Fairgrounds. The concert, An Evening with Neal McCoy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The concert will feature Dani Carson as the opening act. Carson is an acoustic country artist from southwest Oklahoma who has performed since she was 14 years old, according to her biography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All proceeds from the concert will benefit the expansion of Think Ability\u2019s vocational program, so they can provide more job opportunities for the individuals with whom they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thinkabilityfirst.com<\/a> or https:\/\/www.stubwire.com.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New endeavor \u2018very rewarding,\u2019 caf\u00e9 chef says Body DUNCAN \u2014 Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there. \u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2339,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions\/2339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![<\/a>Think Ability Executive Director Robin Arter discusses the programs the nonprofit is operating, including the newly opened Garden Caf\u00e9 at 805 W. Main St. in Duncan. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Customers enjoy the cuisine at the Garden Caf\u00e9 while others stand in line to place their orders. The caf\u00e9 offers salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/a>The Garden Market and its large inventory are seen in this photo from the Garden Caf\u00e9, which is located on the second floor. The Garden Caf\u00e9 opened last week. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBody<\/p>\n\n\n\nDUNCAN \u2014<\/strong> Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers at the hospital, the fire department, several businesses around the downtown area and many Duncan residents. Having the caf\u00e9 was one of our dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo far, one person with a disability works at the caf\u00e9 but that number will increase after the staff learns the system so they can pass that knowledge on to other employees, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGarden Caf\u00e9 is part of Think Ability\u2019s overall vocational program that includes The Community Market, Adult Day Center, The Community Garden, and Power Print. Think Ability also provides janitorial services for 19 buildings including the State Capitol through the State Use Program for employing individuals with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability Inc. is a multiservice nonprofit organization that also provides residential services and independent living support services for people with intellectual, cognitive and other related developmental disabilities. The administrative office is located in Duncan and the service delivery area includes communities throughout southern Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe caf\u00e9, located on the second floor of 805 W. Main St., has 17 tables which are almost full each day of the week. Garden Caf\u00e9 chef Chris Cody, who has 15 years of kitchen experience, said the time spent prepping for the opening and now serving customers \u201chas been awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI love it,\u201d Cody said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nArter complimented Cody\u2019s ability work the employees with disabilities and prepare good-tasting food for the customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very understanding and accepting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs with any major new endeavor, Arter said the caf\u00e9 project has been a labor of love, but very tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI go to bed achy,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I get the warm and fuzzies when I think about the good we\u2019re doing and the people who will benefit from this. That\u2019s what puts me to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe menu has a variety of food which includes soups, sandwiches, salad bar, loaded baked potatoes, treats and kids\u2019 menu. The caf\u00e9 is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability offers more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIncluded in the downtown building is The Garden Market on the first floor and a third-floor ballroom that is rented for weddings, meetings, family reunions and other large gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther programs operated by Think Ability is a commercial print shop, Community Garden, a Farm-to-Table program, and a School-to-Work initiative. All total, Think Ability\u2019s programs educate people with disabilities and employs more than 100 residents with disabilities. The Community Garden, which recently added a greenhouse, started three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability also operates a Litter Crew that covers Comanche and Stephens counties. The crews pick up litter along the roadways as part of a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In addition, Think Ability places residents for outside employment at Wendy\u2019s, Braum\u2019s, McDonald\u2019s and Duncan Regional Hospital, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe find a way to adapt their job to fit their abilities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018An Evening with Neal McCoy\u2019 benefit concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAll the Think Ability programs take money and fundraising is a key component of the nonprofit\u2019s plan. As a result, Think Ability will host a benefit concert Friday, April 28 at the Stephens County Fairgrounds. The concert, An Evening with Neal McCoy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe concert will feature Dani Carson as the opening act. Carson is an acoustic country artist from southwest Oklahoma who has performed since she was 14 years old, according to her biography.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll proceeds from the concert will benefit the expansion of Think Ability\u2019s vocational program, so they can provide more job opportunities for the individuals with whom they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thinkabilityfirst.com<\/a> or https:\/\/www.stubwire.com.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New endeavor \u2018very rewarding,\u2019 caf\u00e9 chef says Body DUNCAN \u2014 Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there. \u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2339,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions\/2339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/www.southwestledger.news\/sites\/southwestledger.news\/files\/2023-04\/Robin%20Arter%20Think%20Ability.JPG\"){kind=link}
![<\/a>Customers enjoy the cuisine at the Garden Caf\u00e9 while others stand in line to place their orders. The caf\u00e9 offers salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/a>The Garden Market and its large inventory are seen in this photo from the Garden Caf\u00e9, which is located on the second floor. The Garden Caf\u00e9 opened last week. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBody<\/p>\n\n\n\nDUNCAN \u2014<\/strong> Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers at the hospital, the fire department, several businesses around the downtown area and many Duncan residents. Having the caf\u00e9 was one of our dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo far, one person with a disability works at the caf\u00e9 but that number will increase after the staff learns the system so they can pass that knowledge on to other employees, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGarden Caf\u00e9 is part of Think Ability\u2019s overall vocational program that includes The Community Market, Adult Day Center, The Community Garden, and Power Print. Think Ability also provides janitorial services for 19 buildings including the State Capitol through the State Use Program for employing individuals with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability Inc. is a multiservice nonprofit organization that also provides residential services and independent living support services for people with intellectual, cognitive and other related developmental disabilities. The administrative office is located in Duncan and the service delivery area includes communities throughout southern Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe caf\u00e9, located on the second floor of 805 W. Main St., has 17 tables which are almost full each day of the week. Garden Caf\u00e9 chef Chris Cody, who has 15 years of kitchen experience, said the time spent prepping for the opening and now serving customers \u201chas been awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI love it,\u201d Cody said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nArter complimented Cody\u2019s ability work the employees with disabilities and prepare good-tasting food for the customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very understanding and accepting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs with any major new endeavor, Arter said the caf\u00e9 project has been a labor of love, but very tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI go to bed achy,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I get the warm and fuzzies when I think about the good we\u2019re doing and the people who will benefit from this. That\u2019s what puts me to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe menu has a variety of food which includes soups, sandwiches, salad bar, loaded baked potatoes, treats and kids\u2019 menu. The caf\u00e9 is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability offers more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIncluded in the downtown building is The Garden Market on the first floor and a third-floor ballroom that is rented for weddings, meetings, family reunions and other large gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther programs operated by Think Ability is a commercial print shop, Community Garden, a Farm-to-Table program, and a School-to-Work initiative. All total, Think Ability\u2019s programs educate people with disabilities and employs more than 100 residents with disabilities. The Community Garden, which recently added a greenhouse, started three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability also operates a Litter Crew that covers Comanche and Stephens counties. The crews pick up litter along the roadways as part of a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In addition, Think Ability places residents for outside employment at Wendy\u2019s, Braum\u2019s, McDonald\u2019s and Duncan Regional Hospital, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe find a way to adapt their job to fit their abilities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018An Evening with Neal McCoy\u2019 benefit concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAll the Think Ability programs take money and fundraising is a key component of the nonprofit\u2019s plan. As a result, Think Ability will host a benefit concert Friday, April 28 at the Stephens County Fairgrounds. The concert, An Evening with Neal McCoy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe concert will feature Dani Carson as the opening act. Carson is an acoustic country artist from southwest Oklahoma who has performed since she was 14 years old, according to her biography.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll proceeds from the concert will benefit the expansion of Think Ability\u2019s vocational program, so they can provide more job opportunities for the individuals with whom they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thinkabilityfirst.com<\/a> or https:\/\/www.stubwire.com.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New endeavor \u2018very rewarding,\u2019 caf\u00e9 chef says Body DUNCAN \u2014 Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there. \u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2339,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions\/2339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/www.southwestledger.news\/sites\/southwestledger.news\/files\/2023-04\/Think%20Ability%20customers.JPG\"){kind=link}
![<\/a>The Garden Market and its large inventory are seen in this photo from the Garden Caf\u00e9, which is located on the second floor. The Garden Caf\u00e9 opened last week. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST LEDGER<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBody<\/p>\n\n\n\nDUNCAN \u2014<\/strong> Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers at the hospital, the fire department, several businesses around the downtown area and many Duncan residents. Having the caf\u00e9 was one of our dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo far, one person with a disability works at the caf\u00e9 but that number will increase after the staff learns the system so they can pass that knowledge on to other employees, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGarden Caf\u00e9 is part of Think Ability\u2019s overall vocational program that includes The Community Market, Adult Day Center, The Community Garden, and Power Print. Think Ability also provides janitorial services for 19 buildings including the State Capitol through the State Use Program for employing individuals with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability Inc. is a multiservice nonprofit organization that also provides residential services and independent living support services for people with intellectual, cognitive and other related developmental disabilities. The administrative office is located in Duncan and the service delivery area includes communities throughout southern Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe caf\u00e9, located on the second floor of 805 W. Main St., has 17 tables which are almost full each day of the week. Garden Caf\u00e9 chef Chris Cody, who has 15 years of kitchen experience, said the time spent prepping for the opening and now serving customers \u201chas been awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI love it,\u201d Cody said. \u201cIt\u2019s been very rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nArter complimented Cody\u2019s ability work the employees with disabilities and prepare good-tasting food for the customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s very understanding and accepting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs with any major new endeavor, Arter said the caf\u00e9 project has been a labor of love, but very tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI go to bed achy,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I get the warm and fuzzies when I think about the good we\u2019re doing and the people who will benefit from this. That\u2019s what puts me to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe menu has a variety of food which includes soups, sandwiches, salad bar, loaded baked potatoes, treats and kids\u2019 menu. The caf\u00e9 is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability offers more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIncluded in the downtown building is The Garden Market on the first floor and a third-floor ballroom that is rented for weddings, meetings, family reunions and other large gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOther programs operated by Think Ability is a commercial print shop, Community Garden, a Farm-to-Table program, and a School-to-Work initiative. All total, Think Ability\u2019s programs educate people with disabilities and employs more than 100 residents with disabilities. The Community Garden, which recently added a greenhouse, started three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThink Ability also operates a Litter Crew that covers Comanche and Stephens counties. The crews pick up litter along the roadways as part of a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. In addition, Think Ability places residents for outside employment at Wendy\u2019s, Braum\u2019s, McDonald\u2019s and Duncan Regional Hospital, Arter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe find a way to adapt their job to fit their abilities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018An Evening with Neal McCoy\u2019 benefit concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAll the Think Ability programs take money and fundraising is a key component of the nonprofit\u2019s plan. As a result, Think Ability will host a benefit concert Friday, April 28 at the Stephens County Fairgrounds. The concert, An Evening with Neal McCoy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe concert will feature Dani Carson as the opening act. Carson is an acoustic country artist from southwest Oklahoma who has performed since she was 14 years old, according to her biography.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll proceeds from the concert will benefit the expansion of Think Ability\u2019s vocational program, so they can provide more job opportunities for the individuals with whom they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.thinkabilityfirst.com<\/a> or https:\/\/www.stubwire.com.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New endeavor \u2018very rewarding,\u2019 caf\u00e9 chef says Body DUNCAN \u2014 Think Ability kicked off its newest endeavor with the Garden Caf\u00e9 last week, which will eventually have six people with disabilities working there. \u201cWe\u2019ve had glowing reports about the caf\u00e9 so far,\u201d said Robin Arter, executive director of Think Ability Inc. \u201cWe\u2019ve been supported by customers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2339,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336\/revisions\/2339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.thinkabilityfirst.pcwizard-ok.com\/website_dff429b9\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/www.southwestledger.news\/sites\/southwestledger.news\/files\/2023-04\/Think%20Ability%20Market.JPG\"){kind=link}