06-06-2025
Food truck joins Hope Foundation, creates experiences for people with disabilities
DES MOINES, Iowa — Millie the food truck just joined 'The Hope Foundation', a non-profit focusing on creating inclusive social experiences for teens and young adults living with disabilities.
Katie Hoover and Alicia Karwal lead the foundation, and they're the reason the 'MillieMovement' and 'Cups of Kindness' exist. They met in college when they were studying to become special education teachers. Now their mission is expanding.
'We love that all abilities are able to work,' says Hoover. 'We have some students that have a diagnosis of autism. We have some students that have a diagnosis of Down's syndrome and some that don't have a diagnosis. But they found their place and wanting to learn and be part of our kindness village.' Karwal adds, 'They are capable and able to work and be contributing citizens. We need to wrap around them and provide that support so that they can have these gainful employment opportunities.'
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The unemployment rate tells the story. It's nearly twice as high for people with disabilities. That's something Mindy Toyne wants to change for her 17-year-old son Koen, who loves Godzilla.
'They're my emotional support to help me control my feelings,' he explains 'I bring them to work because they help me stay calm and focused.' Mindy says, 'If somebody else has something that they like to wear or if it's a mannerism that they might not be allowed to embrace in a typical work place, they can go ahead and feel safe and supported while focusing on working on your eye contact, working on your social skills, and not worry about also making a cup of coffee or preparing the muffin or the ice cream float or whatever it is.'
Volunteers are part of the 'Millie Movement'. They are kindness curators who work alongside young people like Koen. It's changing their lives, and the world, one cup of kindness at a time.
'We're just hoping that a lot of learning can come out of it and that the community can be kind and experience a feel good takeaway,' says Toyne. 'It's a bit of an experiment in the social aspect for all of us at the same time, but hopefully a good reminder of how to treat each other, whether you have special needs or you don't.'
None of this would be possible without the support of local businesses; from Toyne's business In Any Event and BDI Signs, to La Barista, The Outside Scoop and Court Avenue Brewing Company donating food.
This Saturday is Millie's first 'real' outing. You'll find her and the 'Cups of Kindness' crew at the Iowa Craft Brew Festival at Water
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