Coffee Gives Them a Place to Fit in
- Melodie Fearnow-Kenney
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, Board Member, The Arc of Hanover, Cofounder, Raise Coffee
On Saturday, March 7, The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store hosted "Fashion Doll-Palooza," a special sale and fundraiser for The Arc of Hanover, featuring hundreds of vintage and newer Barbie and other dolls. Raise Coffee provided the beverages. Two baristas from Ashland Elementary School signed up to volunteer and Raise cofounder Melodie Fearnow-Kenney shares about their time together.
Can we highlight Lei Lei and Enzo?
Rosalie (Lei Lei) Shinnamon and Enzo Winston are part of the crew known as the Busy Beans -- the Raise-sponsored coffee cart business based at Ashland Elementary School.
We were really busy at the beginning [of "Fashion Doll-Palooza"], and I was mostly brewing coffee and handling the ice for the cold drinks (Barbie pink lemonade!). But the two of them were a team.
Enzo took the orders, poured the coffee and even added cream and sugar. He became a pro at putting the lids on the cups with the new "lid assist" device we have (less hand; less likelihood for a spill). We started at 10 a.m., and he worked hard with no break until about 12 p.m.
We were told by Lei Lei's special educators that she was a master at opening the creamers. (Little fingers can flip the corners of those lids.) She could do so much more! She poured the pink lemonade, gave drinks to the customers, and Jennifer Dickerson -- an occupational therapist and long-time "Raiser" -- taught her how to put whipped cream on the drinks. Then Lei Lei added pink sprinkles for that special Barbie touch!! Of course, she helped several customers get those pesky creamers opened for their coffee.
Lei Lei loved wearing her Raise apron, just like what she wears at school for the coffee cart. And she danced with me! She stayed past her scheduled time slot and did a fantastic job. Enzo did a great job, too. They work well together.
Lei Lei's mom, Jackie Shinnamon, who also attended the event, said that over the summer break, Lei Lei would miss doing the coffee cart.
"She would say 'coffee cart' and start crying," said Jackie.
Before "Fashion Doll-Palooza," when Jackie contacted me asking if Lei Lei could participate with any Raise events, she wrote, "She absolutely loves doing the cart, making her love school even more. Sometimes when she's upset [at school], they'll have her make drinks even when the coffee cart isn't on that day, to brighten her day.
"Please let me know if there's a place for her to fit in."
I told Jackie that we can get Lei Lei involved in any events we have during the summer. It reminded me that the community events are important, especially when the school coffee carts are closed for the summer. Doing all of those new tasks that come with each event builds confidence in new skills. And it offers opportunity for successful interactions with community members. So many places to fit in!
And gives me new dance partners!!!
Raise Coffee merged with The Arc of Hanover in June 2025. To learn more about its programs and to sign up for upcoming barista events, please visit the Raise Coffee tab on our website.
If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.
If you are a disability self-advocate, parent, caregiver or concerned citizen interested in writing a blog post for The Arc of Hanover -- on transportation or any subject -- please contact Sue Jeantheau, Communications Committee, at sue.jeantheau@thearcofhanover.org.
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