LA Daily News reports: New Horizons launches new “Let’s Do Lunch!” program

Posted: 08/31/16, 9:35 PM PDT | Updated: 1 day ago

NORTH HILLS >> Nancy Jan once had a dream job working at Sam’s Cafe until statewide budget cuts stripped the New Horizons food service training program for special needs adults of its funding.

But she returned to the North Hills cafe Wednesday during the grand opening of a new daily discount lunch program for seniors.

“I’m very happy to be back,” said Jan, wearing a Hawaiian lei over a “Just smile cute rabbit” T-shirt, serving up a luau-themed lunch featuring orange chicken. “I like cooking. Especially making the chocolate chip cookies we sell at Pavilion’s. They’re the best.”

For nearly three decades, the Sam’s Cafe in the center of the New Horizon campus at 15725 Parthenia Street has served as a banquet hall to train developmentally disabled adults. Then state budget cuts slashed funding a few years ago, forcing the North Hills nonprofit agency to pare back its 85 paid jobs to 12.  To read more…