Submitted photo Elkins Rotary Club grant chair Tammie Rizzio, Elkins Middle School teacher John Taylor and Elkins Middle School principal Dawn Kittle.

ELKINS – The Rotary Club of Elkins has made a gift of $377.18 to support a project at Elkins Middle School. The project will serve students in grades 5-8 with severe and profound disabilities, establishing a mock coffee cart business for the students. The coffee cart will provide opportunities for the students to develop essential skills including following recipes, taking orders, serving customers, handling money, budgeting and enhancing communication.

Students will be actively involved in all aspects of the coffee cart operation including preparation for service, preparing beverages, creating promotional materials and cleaning the cart and related areas in preparation for the next day’s business. The cart will operate on Fridays throughout the school year, with the proceeds from the sales being reinvested to sustain the program.

“The primary goal of this project is the develop students’ functional, vocational and communication skills through participation in a structured, school-based coffee cart business,” said John Taylor, Life Skills teacher at EMS.

The Rotary gift will be used to purchase a rolling kitchen cart as well as various coffee/tea supplies for the cart. “My students have diverse learning needs and achieve the greatest success through hands-on activities, such as those provided by the coffee cart project,” said Taylor. “This initiative will support each student’s individualized career and daily living goals.”

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.