14 • July 24 - 25, 2020 LOCAL • COFFEE Continued from page 3 Clients and job coaches at Cedar Creek Coffee enjoy baking. (Branson Globe photo by K.D. Michaels) The staff of New Hope Development readies their clients for the work force by helping them prepare resumes, preparing them for interviews, and teaching basic skills needed in the service industry. One room in the center is devoted to hands-on training in skills such as folding laundry and making beds for jobs in the lodging field. Another area teaches skills needed in food service, while a third simulates stocking shelves in a store. Clients also get excellent on-thejob training working in the Cedar Creek kitchen, roasting coffee, and baking Kolaches, -- delicious Czechoslovakian pastries with an assortment of fillings and topped with a delectable dough that nearly bransonglobe.com melts in your mouth! “We help them find a job, and our job coaches will go with them. We’ll provide whatever support they need,” noted Zurn. “We will help with the training, get them comfortable, and then our goal is to fade our support and at the same time help them to develop a natural support in the work place. Area businesses have been so great about helping our individuals and working with them.” Zurn commented that many of their 25 clients have found jobs in the community. Then, Covid-19 hit, and brought with it some challenges. Many of the clients were laid off, or faced reduced hours, and it seemed that Zurn and New Hope were facing an uphill battle. However, it was in the midst of the pandemic that another of Zurn’s dreams became a reality -- the opening of their new coffee shop and cafe on the beautiful campus of Elevate Branson (formerly Jesus was Homeless). “We were at Pizza Ranch one day, doing a taste testing with our new blend of coffee,” remembered Zurn. “That’s when I was approached by Bryan Stallings from Elevate Branson. He said ‘I have this beautiful cafe space, it’s already inspected and ready to go. Why don’t you open your coffee shop there? We would love to have you.’ So, that’s how we started the partnership with Elevate Branson. It just all fell into place. They were right in the middle of their name change, and adding some wonderful things to their program that really just lined up wit hall the things that we do here.” The newly-opened Cedar Creek Coffee and Creations serves a variety of specialty coffees, smoothies, frappes, and the delectable Kolaches. Customers can also enjoy free wi-fi, the use of guest computers, or the selection of board games and card games that are available. The cafe is staffed by clients of New Hope Development, who work as cashiers, baristas, and serve the Kolaches. The clients also enjoy SEE COFFEE, PAGE 15
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