County staff and employees from Options, Inc. gathered around the Blackbird Coffee Co. kiosk in the lobby of the Sherburne County Government Center recently to both celebrate the one-year anniversary of Blackbird Coffee and to watch as Options was awarded the 2024 MOHR Choice Award. 

Blackbird Coffee, Co.  is owned, operated and powered by Options, Inc. of Big Lake.  The coffee kiosk was created to help people with disabilities have a better, more meaningful quality of life through access to employment and enrichment opportunities.  That is the reason The Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation chose to honor Options, Inc. on Wednesday, May 1. 

Alicia O’Malley, Employment Coach at Options explained, “We’re always asking, how can we help our individuals lead their best life.  What is important and meaningful to them and how can we make that happen?”

Blackbird Coffee Co. was an answer to how can Options make that happen.  Mandi Sabourin, Employment Coach, said, “They did a survey and discovered there are 20-30 coffeehouses within a very small radius of Big Lake and none of our people are working at any of them.  What better way to get them into a place like that than to have a place where they can train to be a barista.”

Raeanne Danielowski, Sherburne County Commissioner for Big Lake District 2, introduced the presentation of the Choice Award and Dan Weber, Assistant County Administrator said a few words. 

“We just want to thank you for being here.  This is a wonderful partnership we’ve had for over a year.   The employees love it.”

Sherburne county employees and visitors conducting business at the government center are their primary customers, but a growing number of people are beginning to stop in just for coffee. 

Brenda Geldert, Executive Director at Options, noted that the partnership with Sherburne County began long before Blackbird Coffee began serving coffee in the lobby.  She said Options, Inc. has been working with Sherberne County Health and Human Services for more than 45 years.  In that time, they have seen progress being made.  Geldert explained that when she began working for people with disabilities, they were often set aside and ignored.  Now, “In today’s world, they’re treated like anyone else.” 

That progress has come about because of the work of organizations like Options, Inc., the families and the people they serve, and the partnerships they have developed in their community.   Today, Options, Inc. provides a variety of day and employment services, to over 240 people throughout Sherburne and Northern Wright counties.  Services that allow people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue their dreams, assert their independence, and be a part of their community.