Fort Lupton Little Caesar Pizza employs special needs adults

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Kids love pizza parties, but getting a tour of the pizzeria and a hand in making the pizza makes it even more fun.

at’s what happened to a group of special needs Twombly Elementary students on April 11. e group toured the kitchen at Little Caesars and learned how to make pizzas.

Kellie Essert, a Twombly teacher for kids with moderate to severe needs, said the kids were thrilled after the tour.

“ ey got to return to the school and eat the pizza they made,” she said. “It’s always a great day when you get to have pizza. Even better when you make it yourself the way you want it.” at all-around a nity for special needs kids grew into a special relationship between the store owner and the teachers last year.

As it turns out, it was just as big a treat for the store’s owner, David Maddox. His store has a long history of employing special needs residents and helping them out.

Maddox said he was inspired by his father to help people with special needs. His father worked with e Arc in Florida, which protects the human rights of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Calvin Kind, district manager for the Little Caesars Pizza stores in Sterling and Fort Lupton, said he can relate to people with special needs because his son was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. He helped him at Craig Hospital through rehabilitation.

“It was hard for us both, but we learned a lot. Craig Hospital did a wonderful job. He was disabled and worked on cars in his wheelchair, and I made him get up every day and go to college,” Kind said.

“I have passion for those with special needs who are trying so hard.

We have success with hiring people with special needs and there is a need for that. It’s how we started this program,” Kind added.

Twombly’s Essert said she met Kind when she came to pick up a pizza for her class. He saw her name badge, asked what she did and gave her the order for free.

“Little Caesars has been providing a monthly party for us ever since,” Essert said. “Our kids have to earn it, it’s not a given. ey earn it by demonstrating good behavior, kindness and attendance.”

Adults, too

It goes beyond kids, they agreed.

Retired Twombly Elementary Tech

Lab teacher Liz Chavez is another link between the school and the pizzeria. Chavez works at Little Caesars and helped start a program that donates drawstring bags for school work to kids that do well in school. e school also has another program where the kids can earn a point for doing well, and Maddox’ Little Caesars donates the food so they can have pizza parties.

Chavez said she got involved after she retired, and I needed some points from her Medicare and a part-time job.

“I was walking outside one day and ran into Calvin and I asked him if he needed help and he said, sure, we could t you with exactly the hours you need,” Chavez said.

Chavez said she works with some of the kids she taught at Twombly. It is good to see these kids in another light, she said.

“I see them as grown adults, trying to fend for themselves, make their own money, and hold down jobs. It’s just fantastic to see that, and it is rewarding for me to see it, too. I did a good job,” Chavez said.

Kind said special needs people he employs learn customer service skills, particularly with di cult customers. He advises his charges to not react and stand above when somebody comes in with a bad mood. Don’t get mad at them, he says.

“My employee says they are being mean to me because I’m handicapped, I tell them they’re mean to all of us. I watch them come out of their shells and become some of my best employees,” Kind said.

Maddox said they have one employee who uses a walker and can only do a little. One chore he excels at is gluing the promotional yers, called bounce backs, on the pizza boxes.

“He loves it. We set him up with some pizza boxes and the bounce backs, and we give him a chair, and he rolls in with his walker, and he goes back there for a couple of hours a week and glues bounce backs on the boxes,” Maddox said. “He takes care of that task that everyone hates, but he loves it.”

For Kind, it’s an important connection.

“Maddox’s heart always has been here doing these programs,” Kind said. “None of this would be possible without his nancial support. Every time I came to him with suggestions, he said, my heart is with that. We both connect with what it means and what the special needs person brings.”