KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Dragonflies Cafe Opens in Reno
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Steaming milk for a latte was not how Nereida Salas expected to spend her volunteer hours. Because she's a welfare recipient she has to volunteer 20 hours per week.
"The goal is to get off getting money from the state and do it yourself," she said.
And the way she's found to do it herself is working at the Dragonfly Cafe.
But this coffee shop isn't like others because the money made here goes to a non-profit that supports women who are on welfare trying to find a new direction.Kate High is the executive director of the Women and Children's Center of the Sierra - the non-profit that runs the cafe.
And taking that control is more than just finding work. The goal of the organization is to find women who want to become self-sustaining both emotionally and financially.
"Being on welfare does not give you any sense of achievement or self-esteem or control over your life.""It's not necessarily easy to find people who have the personal commitment to rebuild their lives," said High. "But if they're willing to work with us, we can help them do that."
And they make a commitment to get those women to their goals. Nereida's goal is to become a psychologist. She knows the road will be long but she'll have a place to work and a support system to get her there.
"Assuming that we can get enough customers into the cafe to keep her going," added High.
"I was lost I didn't know what I wanted to do - and now this has enforced it, that I do want to help people. That's where I need to be," said Salas.
