St. Mark parishioner lands job at Bitty & Beau’s
Mary Grace Walsh is overcome with joy after receiving a job offer from Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop. Staff from the company surprised her after a recent Mass at St. Mark Church. (Photo provided by Amy Burger)HUNTERSVILLE — Mary Grace Welsh received the surprise of a lifetime when representatives from Bitty & Beau’s Coffee showed up with balloons after a recent Mass at St. Mark Church to offer her a job in their new Charlotte coffee shop.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee creates a path for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become more valued, accepted and included in every community. Founders Amy and Ben Wright, who named the company after their children, like to describe Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop as a “human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.”
They opened their first location in 2016 in Wilmington and now operate 23 locations in 12 states. Besides their new Charlotte shop, the company also plans to open a location in Winston-Salem.
The job opportunity is an exciting step on the path to success for Mary Grace, a St. Mark parishioner and graduate of Hough High School in Huntersville. She has been participating in Ryan’s Bridge, a program offered at United Methodist Church in Davidson that gives people with intellectual and developmental disabilities a caring environment for personal growth, vocational experience and socialization.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mary Grace served as a greeter at a local Great Clips store.
“But the pandemic put an end to that,” says her mom Dorothy.
When Dorothy and her husband Richard learned of a Bitty & Beau’s job fair, they jumped at the chance to register their daughter for an interview.
“They had such an overwhelming response! I think they ended up hiring more people than they planned,” Dorothy Welsh says, laughing.
Dozens of friends and community members recently joined members of the Welsh family at Mass for Mary’s surprise, bringing posters to show their support.
There were hugs, happy tears, congratulations and a blessing from the parochial vicar, Father Matthew Bean.
“It’s been an answer to a prayer,” Dorothy Welsh says. “Since high school we have been struggling to find a job for her. We have wanted to find somewhere she can go and contribute.”
The Charlotte location opened Oct. 9 at 1930 Camden Road in South End, near the light-rail tracks.
The drive into Charlotte for Mary’s three-hour shifts are worth it, Dorothy Welsh notes, as it’s given her the opportunity to attend Friday morning Mass at St. Ann Church on Park Road and spend some time in prayer while she waits for Mary Grace to finish working.
What does Mary Grace think about her coffee shop gig?
“I love making the drinks!” she says. “Everyone is super nice.” She also enjoys it when younger children like herself come into the coffee shop with their parents.
“It gives hope to people,” Dorothy Welsh says. “That’s just one of the things I love about Bitty & Beau’s.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Learn more
At www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com: Find out more about Bitty & Beau’s mission, and check out their Charlotte coffee shop at 1930 Camden Road, Suite 236.
STATESVILLE — The Jewell Award was presented at Masses during the weekend of Nov. 14-15 at St. Philip the Apostle Church.
The Jewell Award is usually presented to parishioners who have retired, moved or passed away. The award is made for an individual’s dedication and selfless giving to the Statesville parish. This year the award was presented to Ellen Upton, Raul Echevarria (posthumously) and Melda Showfety.
Upton is a long-time parishioner who founded, and until recently, led the church’s altar guild. She also is a lector and has worked with the parish’s RCIA and faith formation classes.
The late Raul Echevarria served as a lector, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, sacristan, and coordinator of the parish’s Spanish Apostolate. Norma Echevarria, his wife and the parish’s faith formation director, accepted the award on his behalf.
Showfety is a long-time parishioner and convert to the Catholic faith.
For years she has served as a dedicated and trusted member of the parish team that counts the weekly collection.
Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor, is pictured with award honorees Ellen Upton and Norma Echevarria, and Ann McGuire, who helped make the announcement at Mass. Not pictured is award recipient Melda Showfety.
— Connie Ries