Stella Nova donates locations to nonprofit Not Your Average Joe

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A local coffee chain is giving a huge boost to an organization with a mission to empower people with disabilities, by giving them careers.

Local coffee chain Stella Nova is pouring itself in with nonprofit coffee shop Not Your Average Joe and handing over the keys.

This donation is a huge perk for the nonprofit's mission. Within the first year alone, they're hoping to create 100 jobs for people with disabilities.

Coffee shops Stella Nova and Not Your Average Joe are brewing up something extraordinary and it's not just the coffee.

"I thought it's kind of like taking Stella Nova to the next level," said John Kennedy, co-founder of Stella Nova.

For seven years, Stella Nova has been perking up the metro with its four locations. Kennedy was in charge of style and ambiance.

"My son did that painting, my sister did the dolls, and so we've just it's always been kind of a family process.," Kennedy said, while pointing to the art around the shop.

Co-founder, Kelli Lay, made the system efficient, but now, it's time for a new chapter.

"We're ready to move on and to do more. To expand and grow," said Lay.

The two recently met with Tim Herbel, the founder of Not Your Average Joe coffee shop.

"We employ those who have intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities," said Herbel. "We're like 'Hey, instead of just putting those adults with special needs off by themselves, what if we included them into society where everybody is?'"

A recent discussion between the three of them turned into an unexpected gift.

"John asked, 'Hey, how would you feel about us folding Stella Nova in? Would that propel the mission forward to include people of all abilities?' And obviously, the answer unequivocally is 'Yes,'" said Herbel.

"We actually donated all of the assets of stuff, so we donated the four shops that we have. We donate an intellectual property. We donated the infrastructure here," said Kennedy. "I fell in love with the mission."

Herbel said the donation isn't just pouring into the non-profit's mission, but into dozens of lives.

"This donation will enable us to employ this next year over 100 friends who have superpowers," said Herbel.

Kenney and Lay said they hope NYAJ will eventually push beyond Oklahoma's state lines and employ thousands of people with disabilities.

A good cause, in every cup of coffee.

"Everything you create, you want it to live beyond you because you're not going to live forever despite coffee being a preservative," said Herbel.

Even though this was a huge donation, it still costs a lot of money to merge the two entities. They still need $400,000.

Fortunately, a generous family has already donated half of that.

If you'd like to donate, you can find the link here.