Monthly Archives: December 2018

Store Helps Disabled

Posted on by

by Ethan Duvall
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO — Abilities Unlimited seems ordinary from the outside, but within lies people dedicated to serving the Jonesboro community including those with disabilities. Their purpose is to give people with disabilities a fulfilling and rewarding life.

The store itself consists of a thrift store where all of the inventory comes from community donations. Anything from household items, décor, appliances and electronics can be found throughout the large floor space of Abilities Unlimited. Abbee Anderson, employee of Abilities Unlimited, helps out by cleaning, running the cash register and putting out inventory.

“It gives people an outlet for donation,” she said.

According to Anderson, donating to Abilities Unlimited is beneficial to the community because people may take unwanted items there and then re-sell those items to other people in the community that may actually need them.

Robert Stogsdill

Robert Stogsdill, an Abilities Unlimited employee, sorts through donated books to be put on the shelves. (Photo by Ethan Duvall)

Manager Sandy McQuay comes from a retail background after working in the Dallas Galleria, but also understands how her business helps people with disabilities.

“The purpose of Abilities Unlimited is to improve the living, working and opportunities of persons with disabilities,” she said.

The store provides an outlet for people with disabilities to come and work alongside people different than them. It helps them find work in a safe and productive environment, something former Jonesboro Human Development teaching assistant Odessia Haywood knows quite well.

Haywood strives to make sure people with disabilities have better living, and that starts with being able to work around people that are different than them. Clients that work in the store complete tasks such as keeping bags stocked up front, cleaning and carrying out deliveries.

“I like working with people with disabilities and helping those with special needs,” she said.

Haywood also wants the community to get out and interact with the clients and others with disabilities. It helps with the stores purpose of helping them function within the community.

At first glance, the presence of various items throughout the store would lead one to believe that they were inside another junk store. Abilities Unlimited however is more than that. They exist to promote local contribution to those in need and to create a workable environment for those with special needs.

Soul Food Comes to Jonesboro

Posted on by

***

by Miranda Reynolds
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – The opening of a small restaurant in the downtown area uses family recipes to bring new customers in.

Cynthia Jones, owner of Addie’s Soul Food and Grill, named her restaurant after her mother Willie Addie, who died about 10 years ago. She learned everything she knows from her mother and wants to share her recipes with others.

“I always cooked for my family. I come from a family of 10, but I never knew people enjoyed my cooking until I actually started cooking for the church and that’s when I thought ‘Maybe I should venture out and do it,'” Jones said.

Many family members work with Jones in the restaurant. A sister, nephew, cousins and friends help out when needed. Lacretia Ray, assistant director of Addie’s Soul Food and Grill and sister to Jones, said family remains important to her.

“Cynthia is a very family-oriented person. They push her to keep going. They know she likes to cook and her kids do, too. Her family steps in and helps when they can, so her family, they do a lot. They encourage her a lot,” Ray said.

Not only did Jones learn a few recipes from her mother, but so did Ray.

“When my siblings eat my food, they say, ‘This reminds me of Mom.’ She left a big impact, so every time they eat they always think of her because they say it tastes just like hers,” Ray said.

Among some favorite recipes, Jones remembers her mother’s favorites.

“Her favorite recipe, maybe her turnip and mustard greens, and her dressing was probably her favorite,” Jones said.

One of the restaurant’s employees working under Jones, Amber Hunter, says the atmosphere reminds her of family.

“The sense of family, like it feels like family even though I’m not a part of her family, I feel like I am in a way,” Hunter said.

Jones hopes many people come out and try the new restaurant in the community.

“My goal is for everyone to come out, enjoy and just try it to see if they enjoy it. Just share some of the recipes and stuff, and if they really enjoy it or not, and tell me what I can do to make it better. It’s just for the community. I enjoy to give to people,” Jones said.

Hunter said she plans on working at the restaurant for Jones in the future.

“Working for someone like Cynthia is amazing. You’ll see me here for a while,” Hunter said.

While the restaurant’s soul food cooks, it can be smelled from blocks around in the downtown area.