Visitors to the David Traylor Zoo of Emporia can not only get a look at the animals in the zoo but also can stop for good eats at the zoo’s concession stand during the lunch hour five days a week.
Hetlinger Developmental Services is serving the community and its clients through its concession stand at the zoo, which is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hetlinger started offering concessions at the zoo to create jobs in Emporia for clients at Hetlinger, said Tammy Maley, director of day services at Hetlinger.
“It’s a good tool to get experience,” Maley said.
Maley said the zoo staff is very supportive of Hetlinger and hasn’t charged them to have the concession stand there.
“The zoo has been wonderful to us,” she said.
Judy Hodge, employment service specialist at Hetlinger, said seeing the clients work at the concession stand is rewarding.
“This has been the most exciting part for me,” she said. “We see people working out in the community.”
Hodge’s specialty at Hetlinger is to help Hetlinger clients get a job in the community if they wish. She helps prepare clients for that job and helps them realize what it will take to keep a job, such as hygiene and so forth. Hetlinger works one-on-one with the client at the job site and then backs off as needed but still stays in contact with the client and the person providing the job.
“It’s a good morale booster,” Hodge said. “They see that they can do it.”
Clients enjoy working at the concession stand.
“I like it,” said Todd Orear, a Hetlinger client who was working the stand on Friday. “I’ve learned how to be a little bit quicker about getting things done.”
Heather Suddock, a Hetlinger client who also was working the stand on Friday said she too enjoys working at the concession stand.
“My favorite job is cooking,” she said. “I learned how to cook hot dogs.”
Maley said 11 Hetlinger clients have worked at the concession stand. The concession stand will stay open through August unless demand drops off drastically. Hetlinger plans to run the concession stand next year from the middle of May through the middle of August.