Students with disabilities serve up coffee, smoothies at Whippet Up Cafe

SHELBY — Damien Jones was ready to fire up the blender.

"Blender on," he said in a raised voice as he prepared another order at the Whippet Up Café. 

Each day, students with disabilities take and make orders and deliver coffee and smoothies at Shelby High School, under the watchful eye of intervention specialist Molly Mahaney.

Mahaney previously sent out a survey to see how staff felt about the idea before going forward.

"Everyone seemed really excited about it," she said.

When the students with disabilities arrive at school, they eat breakfast, then do their hygiene "so they look presentable for work."

"If they have a job, they get started on it," Mahaney said. "If they don't have a job, they do morning work."

Each day, two students are assigned to be baristas. Two others take orders, while two more make deliveries.

Students change jobs every two weeks

Jobs are rotated every two weeks. The students are learning skills they will be able to use in the workplace.

Thursday morning was exceptionally busy at the Whippet Up Café. Jones and Mason Simmons were making orders as fast as they received them.

Jones prepared a Frozen Whippet, one of the most popular of the 28 specialty drinks. A Frozen Whippet contains cold coffee, ice and hot chocolate.

"It tastes like a cappuccino," Mahaney said.

When the first orders were ready, J.D. Hoff and Jade Mlakar delivered them, with help from paraprofessional Brittany Bechtol.

Their first stop was the cafeteria, where a number of students had gathered for study hall.

Freshman Bella Carver ordered the Frozen Whippet.

"It's really good," she said. "We get it at least once a week."

Sitting at the same table was freshman Allie Vogt. She opted for a mango smoothie.

"Mango's my favorite fruit," Vogt said, adding she also orders from the Whippet Up Café about once a week.

Back in the classroom, Simmons asked for a hug from Mahaney.

"Thanks for asking," Mahaney said. "All right, let's get back to work."

One of the students had previous claim to fame

Simmons made the news in late February during the regular-season finale of the boys basketball team. A four-year manager, Simmons suited up for the first time in his career and, with 35 seconds left, he checked in, making the home crowd go wild.

They were in a frenzy after Simmons drained a three-point shot.

While that was a highlight, so is the Whippet Up Café. Mahaney has admired the improvements of Simmons, Jones and all of their classmates.

"All the little things, they've been able to perfect as we go," she said.

For example, they have learned the exact amount of whipped cream to add to a drink to keep it from spilling out from under the lid.

But that doesn't mean there aren't some mistakes. Jones took money from a customer when he was supposed to stick to barista duties.

"You can't take money because you're making the drinks," Mahaney gently told Jones before having him wash his hands.

During a break in deliveries, Hoff asked Principal John Gies what was on the lunch menu. Gies, sporting a Cleveland Guardians shirt in honor of baseball's opening day, told him they would be having strips of fire, a chicken dish.

Hoff approved.

Coffee cart is last task of day

When all the specialty drinks have been prepared, it's time for the coffee cart, mainly for teachers who want "regular" coffee.

Teachers Andrew Guertler and Blake Hixon order every day. They have set up their own accounts.

Guertler takes his coffee black. He is a big fan of the Whippet Up Café.

"It's great for the kids to get out and be able to interact with the students and teachers," he said, "and, of course, it supplies our caffeine."

Like Guertler, Hixon, whose classroom is right across the hall, takes his coffee black.

"We're a lot alike," Hixon said of himself and Guertler. "They say we're besties."

Accompanied by Bechtol, Hoff and Mlakar made their way around the first floor. They paused momentarily when the bell rang and students filled the hallway.

Bechtol monitored the loyalty cards. Customers who order five drinks get the sixth one free.

Any money the Whippet Up Café makes goes for supplies. Mahaney also hopes to take the kids on a field trip. 

In the future, she said she also would like to get them involved when the school holds fundraisers. 

All of that can wait. The students were mainly concerned about getting through a busy Thursday.

"Most of the time, we're done by 9 o'clock," Mahaney said at 9:15. 

"It's (been) a long day," Simmons said, adding he might have a mango-strawberry smoothie. 

"You've been working hard," Mahaney replied.

The intervention specialist spoke with pride about her students.

"Months ago, on a day like this, we would have been working until 11," Mahaney said. "They've come so far."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill