Cameron's Coffee & Chocolates

This segment is sponsored by Apple Federal Credit Union. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often in a population that is forced to the background. But a cafe in Fairfax, Virginia, these extraordinary people are brought front and center and they're provided opportunities to create something extra special. Behind these windows is a group of extraordinary people. Making extraordinary chocolates. We couldn't be as good as everybody else. We had to better. That's the mission behind Cameron's Chocolates, a nonprofit cafe in Fairfax, Virginia that employs adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We wanted everybody to see how capable our workers are. Cameron's Chocolates was founded by Ellen and Jim Graham as a safe place for their daughter Cameron and other adults with disabilities to work and grow. I have somewhat fun with my friends, My husband and I looked around for a place for her to work where she could bake and interact with people and do all those things. And there wasn't really any jobs available And so we decided that we'd try to start something. And here we are. Nine years later, Cameron is now 32 and Cameron's Cafe has grown from three employees to 21. When you think about it, when you bake, you're making food, right? And what part of our goal is to develop not only the work skills of everyone who works here, but also to develop their social and their life skills. They're able to learn skills they wouldn't learn in a different environment, but they're also able to work independently. Team leaders It's important for them to know that these guys are really putting everything together. We may be coming along, kind of guiding them and putting some finishing touches or showing them how to put finishing touches on everything, but really they do all the work. January and February are usually very busy months at Cameron's Chocolates as they prepare for annual chocolate festivals, Valentine's Day and more. But with the latest COVID surge, things slowed down quite a bit. I am really excited and honored to make the biggest confectionary purchase I have ever made. So, Apple Federal Credit Union decided to step in and help. We would love to have Apple's going to make deliveries every month for the next six months, and Cameron's is going to provide the items for us to deliver. Thank you. It's going to give our workers so many jobs to do. They're going to be making all these things that they love to do. They're going to be busy. They are so revved up for this. So, we know we're going to be doing this weekly and doing different things. This is an organization whose purpose, similar to Apple's, of improving lives and fulfilling dreams, focuses in on those who often are excluded. And in a time where we're starting to talk more about inclusivity and the importance of it, I heard about Cameron's and we absolutely had to. What I wanted to do was not only be able to, on behalf of Apple, lift up Cameron's, but keep the cycle going and spread the love. So, we're going to help inflate the participants here, but we're also going to give back to the first responders in our area who are working so hard. Cameron's chocolates has brought so much joy and deliciousness to the community. Many of these chocolate makers have far exceeded what was expected to them by society and hope to inspire the next generation by making those limitations melt away. I have a 10-year-old daughter and she's intellectually disabled as well. Watching these older adults being able to have meaningful employment and be part of the community in such a way that they are gives me a lot of hope. We need more places The chocolates are amazing, but more importantly, the people are amazing. If you want to find out more about how Apple Federal Credit Union spreads kindness in the community as a part of its Kindness Rocks campaign, just head to applefcu. org.