Father’s Day is coming up. A group of youngsters with intellectual disabilities showed how they have grown and evolved as a Father’s Day present. Chang Yung-Fa Charity Foundation and Evergreen Laurel Hotel (Keelung) on August 3 held a Father’s Day Special: “Happy Kids try being a store supervisor for a day”. In Keelung, 21 Happy Kids from Little happiness link Social Welfare Foundation’s self-run bakery, Bear House, were invited to serve as supervisors in the 1F lobby bar at Evergreen Laurel Hotel. The Happy Kids greeted everyone amicably, brought out cookies, cakes and coffee that they brewed themselves. They told their fathers: they too could become a store supervisor.

Little happiness link Social Welfare Foundation was in the process of moving to a new place. Besides retaining Bear House, the new venue would have an auxiliary diner. The Foundation took the lead and donated NT$200,000 towards their expenses. Evergreen Laurel Hotel also dispatched their most distinguished store manager to coach Happy Kids’ professional skills hoping that they will one day fulfill their dream of becoming a store supervisor. At the end of the event, the Happy Kids, their parents and Bear House instructors were all treated to exquisite afternoon tea to celebrate Father’s Day and release their stress. The father of one Happy Kid, Wei-Wei, said, “Wei-Wei had problems fitting in at his previous workplace. Since coming to Bear House, he has got better at social interaction, grown more confident and is now even acting as a store supervisor. Thank you for helping him grow.” Xiao-Ju’an, another Happy Kid whose parents had passed away, wrote in a card to her deceased father expressing her wishes to be his daughter in next life. Her words moved many people to tears.

Bear House’s executive director, Zhao Yu-Lin, stated, “Those with intellectual disabilities are like kids that never grow up and their family end up worrying about them all the time. They are slow learners. Any small change requires practice over an extensive period of time. Today it has been no easy task for them to be a store supervisor for a day. Thank you to Evergreen Laurel Hotel’s patient coaching and instilling in their service the Evergreen spirit.” This “Store Supervisor for One Day” charity event reaped a revenue of NT$34,000 which will be spent entirely on building Little happiness link Social Welfare Foundation’s new home. The Foundation stated, “The Happy Kids have moved us with their persistence of raising funds by baking and selling cookies. Let’s support them with actual purchase.”

Sun Yan-Jing, general manager of Evergreen Laurel Hotel (Keelung), said, “The instructors need to keep repeating the demonstration in order for the Happy Kids to learn the skill. Frustration is part of the process. It has been challenging for both parties. After a few sessions, we are really touched by the Happy Kids’ earnest attitude. It has been worth it. We at Evergreen Laurel Hotel are quite willing to carry on utilizing our expertise and help Happy Kids grow and fulfill their dreams. Chang Yung-Fa Charity Foundation works with Evergreen International Hotels on a long-term basis. Evergreen Laurel Hotel (Keelung) has donated many thousand pieces of furniture; opened up their hotel kitchens for the view of social welfare groups to learn about food safety procedures; provided free use of venues for musicians with vision impairment; organized sales of painted umbrellas by people with physical disabilities; hosted Elders’ Day dinners for the elderly people. The hotel has been creating new value for public causes using their professional resources.