Recently, a group of developmentally disabled clients from Social Vocational Services went to Foster Freeze on Tres Pinos Road to eat lunch. They were treated very rudely by a woman who identified herself as the owner. The clients and staff were upset enough by the treatment they received that they cancelled their food order and went next door to Taco Bell. At Taco Bell, they were met with warmth and kindness, as any customer should be.
SVS has been a part of the Hollister community for close to four years. Many of the clients and most of the staff live here and we know this to be a friendly and supportive community. The point is not so much to cause the employees of Foster Freeze to feel shame, although certainly the owner should take note, but to thank all the fine local places that welcome folks who may be a little different and treat them with the same respect and courtesy as anyone else. Businesses should realize that treating one small group offensively can cause negative word of mouth to spread more widely than one might imagine. As always, each and every person should be treated the way we ourselves would like to be treated.
Alison Noble, program director, SVS Hollister
