Tea and Scones and Special Needs

Dave and Mercedes Rizzo and their daughter Danielle enjoyed an elegant afternoon tea at a farmhouse staffed by young people with autism.

We like to drink tea in our house. It’s calming and evokes a sense of serenity. Usually, we sit down after dinner to sip one of our favorite teas from one of our favorite mugs. We have amassed quite a collection of mugs from places we’ve travelled. We’ve picked up mugs in Ireland, Italy and of course the states we’ve visited here at home. Our mugs depict not only countries and states, but also universities, favorite sports teams and activities we like and are involved in including the Special Olympics. Rarely do we sit down with a traditional teacup and saucer, or formal tea service. This changed when we attended a traditional afternoon tea the other day about an hour’s drive from home.  

A Stressful Start 

Since our daughter Danielle has autism, we sometimes hear about businesses that employ people with special needs. When we heard about a tea house which hires young people with autism, we were immediately interested. We reserved a time and decided to make it a belated Mother’s Day celebration.  

Our drive up turned out to be a little stressful due to a big rainstorm. In fact, it was a deluge. This slowed us down and we were almost late, adding to the stress. However, when we pulled up to the historic farmhouse dating back to the Revolutionary War, our stress disappeared. We found ourselves in an elegant room with chandeliers and historic molding.   

A Delightful Time 

We were impressed by our waiter Joe. He arrived very formally with a waiter’s cloth napkin draped over his bent arm to take our order. He greeted us and knew the menu well and answered our questions. We selected our tea. Three pots of tea were brought to our table steeped to perfection. Sweets such as scones, cake, and tea sandwiches were brought to us on three-tiered trays. This was a formal tea service indeed.  

We enjoyed the tea sandwiches, scones and desserts. There was plenty left to bring home too. All the food was prepared by the interns who work there using items from the farm. They even made fresh jam and cheese. When we arrived, Danielle had been unhappy because of the long drive, and it was later than her normal lunch time. However, as we listened to soothing music, sipped our tea, and tasted all the food, Danielle was happy again. So were we.  

Having a job provides satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. This is a great program because it allows the interns to meet new people, have regular social interactions, and utilize their skills and talents. It was wonderful for us special-needs parents to see people with special needs in an environment where they find understanding, peace. fairness, dignity and respect.

We thought of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers, and how he helps intercede for all workers to find employment, dignity and fairness in their jobs and in society. We pray for all those involved in making this particular program possible for both the interns and the customers.  

This was a lovely afternoon.  

Tea: it is good for your soul for sure.  

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Copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo
Images: copyright 2025 David and Mercedes Rizzo, all rights reserved.