Partnerships Help New Hope Thrive | The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Levy Restaurants

The New Hope of Indiana Cheese and Thank You Food Truck program is designed to provide individuals with disabilities paid job training in the food service industry to prepare them for employment.
In 2023, LaDiamond, who is served in our residential and AIM programs, was a food truck program participant. During the program, she learned important skills such as customer service, food safety and business management.
During a food truck networking event at New Hope, one of our board members brought associates from The Children’s Museum to come and try Cheese and Thank You’s mac-and-cheese and learn more about the program. During the event, associates from The Children’s Museum’s food services provider, Levy Food Services, met the workers and immediately had interest in hiring one of the individuals working on the truck.
From this interaction, when the food truck serving season was over, LaDiamond interviewed and was hired through Levy to work at The Children’s Museum. According to Michele and Esther, who serve as LaDiamond’s supervisors at The Children’s Museum, she is excelling and has become very proficient in her role. LaDiamond ices cookies, stocks beverage coolers, helps make pretzels and cleans tables in the cafeteria. Michele and Esther are so happy to have LaDiamond on their team.