Yesterday I stopped by Beanz & Co. Café to meet up with a friend and to drop off some more A Place for Sam books.
If you don’t know Beanz, it’s a place “where everyone belongs.” Beanz was started by the new england pasta company owners Kim and Scott Morrison and their friends Noelle and Tim Alix. Both couples have daughters, Meg and Cate, who have Down’s syndrome. What the Morrison’s realized as Meg was approaching 21 is the lack of job opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). So they paired with the Alix’s and together they started this inclusive cafe where they hire people with IDD.
When you go to Beanz, you experience life as it should be, with everyone being accepted for who they are and treating one another with love, dignity and respect. I always leave there nourished by the people, the experience and the food.
For years now Beanz has carried A Place for Sam in their store where it’s placed next to their “Everyone Belongs” shirts and mugs. When I wrote Sam I was simply writing my story at a kid’s level hoping to remind kids that they have a place and a purpose and their puzzle piece matters What I didn’t know is how the story would resonate so well with families with a loved one with IDD. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the Beanz community and their mission to be a place where everyone belongs.
People have flown in from across the country to experience this beautiful inclusive community. I highly recommend you stop in for a visit to Beanz. It’s where you belong
With love and hope,
Shawn
Love your neighbor as yourself. - Mark 12:31