Friday, December 6, 2024
The Friedberg JCC in Oceanside marked a milestone on Oct. 15 with the grand opening of Harvey’s Café, a vocational training café named in honor of longtime advocate and former Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg.
The café, a project designed to provide individuals with disabilities with hands-on training in the food service industry, was made possible in part through Weisenberg’s commitment to supporting people with disabilities.
“This café is a testament to confidence, socialization, self esteem and food. We really wanted this,” said Roni Kleinman, the JCC’s CEO. “The South Shore is so under served as far as funding for programs like this and having people come and support us and seeing the participants, greeting people, getting to serve meals, it’s all great.”
The café’s opening ceremony was attended by numerous community members, advocates, and volunteers, all of whom gathered to celebrate this new initiative. At the heart of the event was Harvey Weisenberg, whose lifetime of advocacy for individuals with disabilities has left an indelible mark on the community.
“People with disabilities have challenges, but they have courage,” Weisenberg said. “The most important value that comes out of interrelationships and socialization is to know that love and happiness are combined. What we are doing today is providing a resource that offers love, understanding, and the opportunity for people with disabilities to be part of society and achieve their full potential.”
Weisenberg, who has personally secured over millions in funding for disability-related initiatives during his career, described his late son Ricky—who had cerebral palsy—as an angel who changed his life and motivated him to improve the lives of others. The creation of Harvey’s Café is a continuation of this work, offering training that not only teaches participants how to make sandwiches and serve customers but also how to build confidence, develop independence, and integrate into the community.
“It’s amazing,’ said Marcy Hallerman, senior program director at the Friedberg JCC. “It’s something we’ve been talking about since we reopened the building after Covid. How we could get our cafe reopened and also provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to learn career skills? It’s just amazing to see it come to fruition and have it actually happening.”
The café was a collaborative effort between the JCC and local volunteers, some of whom are already deeply involved in related programs. Andrietta Calderone and her twin sister Dana, both volunteers at Harvey’s Café, were introduced to the project through the Cooking with Stars program, which had already fostered their love for cooking. They completed months of training, from July to the café’s opening in October, learning food preparation, customer service, and other skills essential to the café’s operation.
“We love it,” Andrietta said, beaming. “We come in every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to work at the café, and then we head over to our cooking class. It’s been a great experience.”
The twins have a history of community involvement. Andrietta works as a page at the Lynbrook Library, while Dana volunteers wherever she can. Their passion for helping others and contributing to meaningful projects like Harvey’s Café reflects the inclusive spirit of the JCC and its programs.
Rockville Centre resident Ashley Gazes, founder and president of the JCC’s Special Advocacy Coalition was a key figure in the development of Harvey’s Café,
“Harvey has always believed that people with disabilities should be a part of society and have the same opportunities as everyone else,” she said. “Thanks in part to his generosity, we can open this vocational café, a place where people with disabilities can learn the skills needed to work in the food service industry.”
Gazes emphasized that Harvey’s Café is not only a place for learning how to work in food service but also a space where individuals with disabilities can grow more independent and gain the confidence they need to pursue paid employment. The café, she said, will help participants secure jobs in restaurants and cafés across Long Island, ultimately creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
Weisenberg’s dedication to serving people with disabilities has been a lifelong pursuit. The JCC itself, a vital resource in the Oceanside community, continues to provide services to people of all ages, from children to seniors.
“This is a family place,” Weisenberg said. “Families come here, and they find not just activities and
