During a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, Montgomery County Community College and Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley celebrated their partnership in opening two cafes on MCCC’s Blue Bell Campus. This is the first time Variety has established vocational centers on a college campus. Photos by Linda Johnson
Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) and Variety – the Children’s Charity of
the Delaware Valley recently celebrated a new partnership involving the opening of
two community-based cafés on MCCC’s Blue Bell Campus.
The cafés not only provide convenient on-campus food options for MCCC students, employees
and visitors, but they also serve as an expansion of Variety’s vocational training
services. Through this initiative, young adults with disabilities have meaningful,
inclusive opportunities to develop essential life and career skills, build confidence,
and thrive with greater independence as they transition into adulthood.
During a special ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 10, MCCC and Variety celebrated the
official opening of the cafés located in Parkhouse Hall and the Health Sciences Center
on the Blue Bell Campus. The cafés mark the first time Variety has established vocational
centers on a college campus.
“The cafés mean much more than delicious coffee and food: they are training sites,
empowering individuals with disabilities through hands-on experience, skill-building
and community engagement,” said Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “This collaboration
is a power reflection of both the College’s mission to transform lives through high-quality
education and workforce development and Variety’s core pillars of education and vocational
training.”
“As we partnered with Montco to operate these two new food site service stands, they
double as vocational training sites for young adults with disabilities who have graduated
from high school and are trying to figure out what’s next,” said Dominique Bernardo,
CEO of Variety, the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley. “And that’s something
that Variety helps to do with all parents and young adults – help answer the question
of what’s next.”
For 90 years, Variety has been enriching the lives of children and young adults with
disabilities and empowering them with a wide range of services. Its 77-acre property
in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, serves as the headquarters for recreational
programs, educational services and vocational training. Variety provides services
across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
The Parkhouse Hall Café is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Health Sciences Center
Café is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cafés serve an array
of breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, paninis, pizzas, parfaits, coffee and more.