NORRISTOWN I’m Jacob MacFarland. “I’m from Coffee Closet; I make hot coffee, tea, coffee, and iced coffee.
An Epoch Times reporter entered the Coffee Closet along with MacFarland. The proprietor introduced himself to MacFarland and asked his mother: “You want him to take a tour ?”
?”
MacFarland’s shop started as a coffee cart in June of 2020, outside the McFarland family business in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It is now a flourishing business that sells great coffee and, more importantly, helps people with special needs to contribute to the community.
Angela MacFarland created the coffee cart in order to allow her son to enjoy coffee. It is more than just a coffee cart. MacFarland has gone from being a shy, anxious young man to becoming a store manager. His story has inspired 12 other young people with special needs to join him as interns in the coffee business. A non-profit was also established to support special needs youth after the success of the coffee shop.
Two Years, Huge Changes
Two years ago MacFarland was suffering from extreme anxiety. He said that he used to use his iPad to avoid people and was now more open to them. It [the coffee shop] is a source of happiness for many people, such as my mother, dad, and our employees. This includes me, my parents, our interns .”
, and our staff.
His love for coffee has helped him overcome his anxiety. He is now a shining star in customer service. It’s a passion for him: He said, “I love working with my interns.” It has been my passion .”
MacFarland’s parents were happy to witness the positive change in their son.
” He struggled with anxiety all his life. He is now more engaged. His conversations are natural. His chit chat is very natural. He will ask questions and he won’t hesitate to answer your questions. Angela states that everything was scripted. Angela says, “He found his purpose. That’s what we wanted .”
MacFarland’s father Jason MacFarland said, “He is a completely different kid since starting here. He’s engaging. He speaks to others. His kindness and helpfulness is infectious. He is always asking for help and willing to answer questions. He’s changed. Tremendous.”
He remembers the day MacFarland started to work with his coffee cart.
” When he started speaking, he could barely speak. He would be able to hear the music and play it. He couldn’t bear the noise. These bands are playing and he is walking. He loves it. He loves to talk to people and ask what their needs are. He loves to serve everyone, no matter what .”
it is.
” “When I first came here, he wasn’t very shy,” Scott Vanderburg said, who is a long-time customer. “Jake’s blossomed quite .”
The Story of Barista Jake’s Coffee Cart
Angela McFarland shared MacFarland’s story.
MacFarland is autistic, has severe anxiety and ADHD. After he graduated from high school in 2019, his parents were worried about his future, especially when the pandemic began in early 2020. When COVID-19 struck, everything changed. Jake was not getting social opportunities. The family’s record shop was closed because it wasn’t an essential business.
” Our husband decided to make a curbside cart that looked a lot like a lemonade stand to entertain Jake. Angela adds that this was to remind our customers at the record stores that we were there.
MacFarland made his dad coffee every morning, and his parents used to joke about him calling “Barista Jake .”
“.
The curbside cart was built by a friend of the family and received lots of community support. The profits were all donated to charities. Angela states, “Everything we do has a charitable component.” It just happened.” The Coffee Closet With Barista Jake has grown to be a fully-fledged company, operating from the Vinyl Closet Records, the family’s music store.
The cafe hosts regular fundraising events. The McFarlands have donated over $26,000 in money, supplies, toys, clothes, and food to local charities.
MacFarland’s Baristas
Angela had worked in recruitment and human resources for 30 years. To help MacFarland’s business, she quit her job. She is now the president and founder of Jake’s Baristas. This non-profit was founded out of the Coffee Closet. It aims “to help teens with special needs get work, interview experience, social skill building .”
, and resume construction.”
Through Jake’s Baristas teens with special needs receive vocational skills and social opportunities in an inclusive setting.
Angela is a both job coach and cook. Her unusual job includes working with special-needs people like her son and helping them to gain confidence and expose themselves to the community in a way that isn’t possible [otherwise ].”
].
Angela believes the Coffee Closet will educate the public about special needs people. McFarlands want people to see that special needs people play in the society.
Inspired by MacFarland’s Story
Angela said that the couple were constantly reminded how inspirational MacFarland’s life story was. They were encouraged by the positive feedback and decided to try something different.
” I hear from many people that our events have incited them,” she said. “We held a mobile event at a school for special needs students last December. We were approached by a woman who was accompanied her little girl. She said that she felt starstruck to meet you. You were my Facebook friend. Your story made me realize that my daughter also has a gift. My daughter started her jewelry and craft company and was a vendor at the event. His story had an incredible impact on them .”
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Angela said she is honored to help more people with special disabilities. There are several other companies that have started to pop up and will credit us for giving them the strength to succeed. It’s always a good feeling. You never know who your inspiration .”
Looking Forward
The MacFarlands were given an antique ambulance. They plan to turn it into a coffee “cart” and take it on trips to senior centres and nursing homes to share their joy.
MacFarland looks forward to the new coffee truck. The ambulance should be ready in no time. It should be done very soon, I believe. We should expand. He says it would be wonderful.
Jason said he wanted to inspire more people with special disabilities: “Look at where Jake began and see where he’s now. Anyone can achieve it. It’s possible .”
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Their website shows the McFarlands’ compassion and hope: “21 years, tens of thousands of dollars (for curing) and 10 million tears later my son is living proof that Children on the Spectrum should never be counted out. It is important for parents to understand that although it might feel like that at the moment, autism does not mean that their children will be unable to achieve greatness in the future .
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Lily Sun, an Epoch Times reporter, covers the tri-state area of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
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