Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop in Livonia will be hosting a Cars and Coffee Car Show on Saturday, May 14. The show will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classic car enthusiasts are invited to bring their classic cars-and not so classic cars-to show off while giving back to an organization working to increase employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A $20 donation is requested for those wishing to show their cars. All funds raised will benefit Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop and Mi Work Matters, a non-profit organization formed in 2018 that advocates for employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop is the first business venture of Mi Work Matters.

Ian Edgar, 28, has been employed at Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop since it opened in 2019. A classic car enthusiast himself, he came up with the idea for the coffee shop to host a car show to draw attention to both the shop's offerings and its mission to develop job skills and independence in its employees. "A lot of people with disabilities don't necessarily have jobs and I figured it would create a lot of publicity for the shop because this is like one of the only places where people with developmental disabilities can work," he says. "It's a relatively slow environment here, and I think that's ideal because it give people with disabilities the time to develop their skills, and it gives them time to get the orders completed, and everybody understands here, we're all family here." In Michigan, the current employment rate for adults with developmental disabilities is less than 20 percent. Edgar adds that the skills learned in this coffee shop setting including customer service and food handling, can be a foundation for other positions when employees decide to seek employment elsewhere in the future.

There will be no charge for spectators and everyone is welcome to attend. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the coffee shop. "I want people to see what we do here and I think this car show is going to be an awesome opportunity for people to see just what we do here. Customers can buy anything and everything," says Edgar.No additional food vendors will be on hand. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Awards will be given for spectators' choice and coffee shop employees' favorite vehicle. Pre-registration is encouraged but cars can also be registered the day of the event as well. The event is being sponsored by Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union.

Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop is located at 19215 Merriman Road, just north of Seven Mile Road. Cars can begin arriving and setting up at 9 a.m. To pre-register, visit https://www.miworkmatters.org/carshow. To find out more about Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop or Mi Work Matters, go to http://www.anastasiaandkatiescoffee.com.