Schaumburg P.E.O.s learn about Gerry's Café

“About 80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed,” Natalie Griffin, co-founder of Gerry’s Café in Arlington Heights, told the Schaumburg P.E.O. Chapter P-LK at its October meeting. Griffin, the guest speaker, went on to explain how she and Amy Philpott created Gerry’s Café as a way to address this unemployment inequity on a local level as well as to build a space where people can get a “pick-me-up for the soul” and team members can connect with the community.

Griffin, a former special education teacher, told the P.E.O. chapter that the café employs 37 individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each teammate earns competitive (market-based) wages and has the opportunity to work at jobs they would like to do, such as food preparation, working as a barista, cashiering or bussing tables. Some teammates like to mingle with customers, she said, while others prefer to work behind the scenes. Having the opportunity to choose jobs that appeal to them as well as learn new skills are reasons why teammates like working at Gerry's Café, she said.

Griffin and one of her team members, Jennifer Vargas, served desserts baked at the café to chapter members. Vargas told the group about her duties as a barista and cashier and encouraged the audience to take brochures describing the café’s catering menu as well as information on making donations to help support the nonprofit.

The café relies on donations and grants as well as patronage. Griffin said they are hoping to be able to expand and open additional cafés in other communities around the area.

Gerry’s Café welcomes volunteers to help assist the team in the café, as well as to help out at special events.

The brightly decorated Gerry’s Café (gerryscafe.org) is at 1802 N. Arlington Heights Road, in Arlington Heights. Located in a remodeled Starbucks, the café serves specialty coffee beverages, baked good and craft food. Café hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

P.E.O. is a philanthropic educational organization founded in 1869. It has helped more than 122,000 women pursue educational goals by providing more than $415 million in grants, scholarships, awards, and loans. Its members often join with other nonprofit organizations in service projects. More information on P.E.O. can be found at peointernational.org.