From the second a person enters Providence Coffee and Market Place, there’s a feeling of warmth and welcoming.

The aroma of fresh-ground coffee beans and just-baked treats fills the air. Employees give sincere smiles and suggestions to customers placing orders.

In an age where authentic customer service has mostly gone the way of the dinosaur, this Bowling Green, Ky., business along busy Highway 31-W shows its care for the community. And this past week, Providence set the bar even higher.

On July 11, through a recently established partnership with Down Syndrome of Southern Kentucky (DSSKY)/The Buddy House, the coffee shop hosted its first work day for adults with Down syndrome. Providence owner Liz Nelson is thrilled about this “labor of love,” and plans to offer it as an ongoing event on a monthly basis.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for these capable people to come and connect with the community through service,” says Liz, whose family also owns Providence Homes and Custom Metal Works. “It gives them such a feeling of self worth to put their skills to use and help others. They’re grateful and jump right in with a smile.”

John Michael Huffman, D.J. Gulley, and Ryan Hopkins were kept busy assisting the Providence morning shift crew with cooking, food prep, serving, greeting customers, and cleaning. John Michael and D.J. are part of The Buddy House Ambassador Program, while Ryan, 17, came up with his mother, Annah Nixon from their home in White House.

“I like cooking the best,” declared John Michael, who is so well-loved and recognized in the area that DSSKY Executive Director Stephanie Morton has dubbed him the “unofficial mayor of Bowling Green.”

Another way Providence Coffee supports DSSKY is through selling the artwork and jewelry made by members of The Buddy House under the brand name 21 Designs. These items are also available for purchase online.

“Whether it’s through working here at the coffee shop or creating pieces through 21 Designs, the people of The Buddy House have a big heart for doing things that bring happiness to others,” explains Crystal Caudill, a DSSKY employee who was the onsite job coach during the shift.

“They love to work,” added Crystal, whose 17-year-old son, Zach, has Down syndrome. “When they learned they would be coming here to Providence, they were super excited.”

Crystal highlighted two other initiatives involving DSSKY/The Buddy House that benefit the organization: a fresh-squeezed lemonade stand at each Friday night home game for the Bowling Green Hot Rods minor league baseball team, and a mobile ice cream trailer, Scoops of Joy. Both are manned by members of The Buddy House.

As the half-day shift at Providence Coffee drew to a conclusion, Liz and her employees gave rave reviews of how well their new friends performed.

“They did a wonderful job,” smiled Liz. “We could all learn from their can-do attitude and work ethic.”

Providence Coffee and Market Place is located at 3031 Nashville Road (31-W) in Bowling Green. You can also check them out on Facebook.

To learn more about the many programs available through Down Syndrome of Southern Kentucky, visit dssky.org.