Elkhart Young Adult Program teaching students life lessons through coffee

ELKHART, Ind. -- Hart City Coffee, an extension of the Young Adult Program in Elkhart, is finding ways to give students ages 18 to 22 with special needs the opportunity to learn life lessons.

Ash-lee Townsend leads the crew saying, "There's those practical, real-life skills, you know, counting money, making change, taking orders, being able to measure and grind, you know, there's math, there's reading, so there's all those functional skills involved."

This program also helps build social skills for these students. Townsend says, "Watching the students interact with people and seeing them come out of their shells and just open up and blossom has been so impactful."

Students pass out coffee to teachers and also have a coffee truck where they visit local events and sell coffee to the community. Students get to bag the beans, brew the coffee and serve the community.

Eyan Brabon, one of the over 20 students in the program, tells ABC 57's Sidney Moore, "I just wait for well, a good challenge."