craveABLEs

CraveABLEs changes lives, one scoop at a time. We provide job skills training and supportive employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities through our mobile ice cream trailer and storefront.

CraveABLEs is a nonprofit organization founded in Spring of 2023 by a special education teacher who saw the barriers her students faced finding/obtaining a job as well as meaningful opportunities after leaving high school. We have spent the past year raising awareness and funds to open a mobile ice cream trailer that now serves the hearts and bellies of Lynchburg VA and surrounding counties. Not only can you find our craveABLEs mobile trailer in community events, but it can be booked for private parties as well. 

CraveABLEs is currently raising funds to renovate and equip our storefront location with the goal of opening June 2024. The storefront is located at 2608 Lakeside Drive and our summer hours will be Wednesday-Saturday 1-9 and Sunday 2-7. Our storefront will have a variety of sweet treats including homestead creamery ice cream, dessert nachos, cookies, etc. Not only will customers get sweet treats at our shop, but they  get to interact with our amazing ABLE employees and know that they are making a difference in their lives. 

Our craveABLEs team is made up of 23 individuals with and without cognitive disabilities. Our ABLE employees are those with intellectual disabilities who have exited high school and are receiving competitive wages. Our ABLE interns are those with intellectual disabilities, still  in high school but learning and increasing their vocational skills. Our support staff is made up of both paid and volunteered positions that range in experienced professionals in the special education field as well as those hoping to go into a field working with disabilities. The support staff help set our ABLE employees up for success with accommodations/ modifications, positive encouragement, and support where needed. 

We are asking the community to help craveABLEs thrive and succeed by supporting us in a variety of ways.  Whether it is through booking our trailer, sharing our organization through word of mouth or social media,  monetary donations/ sponsorships (personal or corporate), being a frequent storefront customer, or wanting to volunteer as a support staff.  We do ask that our volunteer support staff can commit to working at least one consistent day of the week, so that our employees can build rapport and keep to a consistent schedule.

Important links: 

Book Our Trailer https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5yjR9QkIQh72PQ3OlW3w0lZarNO8eQ7NYDJcjEJobN_t9FA/viewform

Donate/Sponsor Us

https://www.craveables.org/donate

Community Involvement Opportunities 

https://www.craveables.org/community-involvement