Dallas Cafe “in the business of kindness” Employs 9 Foster Kids Who Have Aged Out of the System

• Ciara Morton grew up in a foster family after her father sexually abused her.
• After she has aged out of the system, she could’ve ended up on the streets like the other foster kids if she hadn’t found La La Land Kind Cafe.
• In La La Land she has found a place she could finally call home.

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A barista at La La Land Kind Cafe has struggled a year ago but it doesn’t really show because she has always been bubbly and happy while serving her customers.

Ciara Morton was in danger of becoming homeless if she never worked in the cafe. “If this light never came into my life, I would be suffering from depression,” she said. 

The coffee shop in Dallas has become a safe place for foster children. Last year, many have ended up on the streets as 1,200 of them have aged out of the system in Texas alone. 

“We’re not in the business of coffee — we’re definitely in the business of kindness,” the La La Land owner, Francois Reihani, said.

With this, Francois started a program to help foster youth make it through the challenges in the real world. He has hired 9 foster youngsters so far.

Although he has to sacrifice a part of his profits, he doesn’t mind as he says, “there’s a balance in life, right? We have a duty to our society to help the ones who are in need, right?”

Ciara Morton was a victim of sexual abuse by her father when she was only 15. Fortunately, she was rescued and lived with a foster family. But it was still difficult for her five years later.

“I try to push it behind me because it happened, I want to move forward,” Ciara said. “Everything he did won’t go away. But …. “

She has found La La Land and she finally felt at home. To her, the best part of being a store’s employee is “having a support system.” Now, she has people around who believe in her and encourages her to pursue her dreams. In turn, she learns to believe in herself as she works to achieve her goals in life.

Source: CBS News