Lunch Box Plus aims to employ people with disabilities

Business offers sandwiches, dog bones, opportunity

MOSES LAKE — Making money was not the first thought that came to mind for the owners of the Lunch Box Plus as they launched.

"We don't care if we make money," said co-owner Jennifer Gillian. "If we broke even, we would be ecstatic…"

The business, located at 110 E. Fifth Ave., had another goal entirely when it opened its doors Nov. 15.

"We were not looking to open a sandwich shop or a restaurant," said co-owner Jennifer Gillian. "We have a couple other businesses, we work with people with disabilities, so we opened this merely to create jobs for persons with disabilities."

The Lunch Box offers lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, submarine sandwiches and breakfast.

"The reason for (offering breakfast) was trying to lengthen the work day for the people with disabilities to try and get them work," Gillian said. The business, a branch-off from First Choice Services, works with Grant County Developmental Disabilities, she explained, and the county requires that persons with disabilities that get day-program services need to work 20 hours a week.

The other businesses Gillian referred to are Haul's Body Shop, which was recently shut down, and Gun Hutches Unlimited.

"We're trying to create some employment for persons with disabilities," she said. "We have a very large amount of persons with developmental disabilities (in the community), as well as people with just regular disabilities. Everyone has a disability, in some way or another."

There's a definite need for employment opportunities, she said, noting the low economy and that some employers see a liability instead of a person.

"Some people don't have the information — they don't know that there's on-the-job training dollars, or training, or tax credits, stuff like that," Gillian said. "Working with people with severe disabilities is really knowing that every person out there can do something. A lot of people just assume because somebody is wheelchair-bound or they don't talk that they're not capable of working, and they are."

The business also offers homemade dog bones, and will also offer homemade salsa.

Gillian said that such endeavors allow employees a chance to find the area where they shine. She explained that rules are changing, as opposed to previous years where some would work, while others would be doing fun things, and categorized accordingly.

"There's less and less fun stuff — working age adults should work," she said. "And that's a good thing, it's just getting creative. We're in a rural community, low economy (and) you've got persons with disabilities and developmental disabilities looking at the same jobs that people without disabilities are looking at. It makes it really, really tough."

"We have really good food, and this is a special place," said Lunch Box trainer Carla Ferguson. "It's not just a business opening up just to make money. We did this for a reason. We wanted to find jobs for these people, and we did … A lot of them are hard at work. We just want people to realize that just because they're disabled doesn't mean that they can't do anything."

"It's a good business," said food prep worker Joby Flagan. "Come here and eat."

"I like this place and think it's coming together nicely," said cook Rick Skinner. "We've got a good menu, and I think as soon as we've built up a customer base, this place is going to take off."

The Lunch Box employs around 10 people and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Deliveries on orders of $10 or more are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.