A partnership between a nonprofit organization and a Murphy business owner has given a unique opportunity to a young woman.

Hugs Café, a McKinney based nonprofit social enterprise, offers meaningful training and competitively paid employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mandy Cole, owner of Sweetwater Coffee and Tea, said she first began volunteering with Hugs Cafe in January.

Cole said that the cafe created several jobs for its employees, but soon found there was not much turnover, so they created the Hugs Training Academy, which recently graduated its first class.

The Hugs Training Academy is a program that provides training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who seek employment in the food service and hospitality industries.

Alyssa Dougherty, 19, of McKinney is one of the first six graduates of the academy and recently started working at Sweetwater.

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