H15 Ministries' Cardboard Café gives plans a visual aid
The H15 Teen Center's Cardboard Cafe was created to give those designing the cafe a sense of what it might look like, as well as an understanding of what changes might need to be made.
Over the centuries an age-old conundrum has caused many an adult to pause and try to figure out an answer to one simple question.
What to do with these enormous cardboard boxes once the item on the inside is removed?
Andy Schafer, director of H15 Ministries Teen Center in Millersburg, found a way to put multiple big boxes to good use.
While it may be makeshift for the moment until the real thing arrives in the future, Phase II of the buildings now boasts the Cardboard Café, a unique model of what the cafe will become once the funding comes in and the building takes place.
“I mentioned a while back about making a cardboard model of our plans for the cafe area in Phase II,” Schafer said. “We have had a blast doing this, and even though I have invested a fair amount of time into building these and arranging them, it has been extremely helpful as we have worked to get things figured out.”
Schafer said the purpose of building Cardboard Café came about because of the need to have a visual representation of what they were trying to do.
“I felt like I personally could do a pretty good job of laying things out on paper from my mental pictures without needing this, but for the sake of my wife and others who would be involved, I decided to take the time to do it,” he said. “Now that we are getting it put together, I have come to realize that I needed it just as much as anyone else.”
As the group worked to set up the cafe, they arranged the makeshift cardboard appliance and seating, rearranged it and then re-rearranged it again.
“I have become so very thankful that we did this,” Schafer said. “Having a life-size model to walk through has shown me many problems with the plan that seemed to be so easy to see in my head. We haven’t quite finalized everything yet, but we are definitely getting closer. Each time we move things around it feels better and better. As I see this taking shape, I am getting more and more excited as well.”
Not only will the cafe provide food for visiting teens, but it will also eventually be a place in which they can work.
He said as they laid out the home economics portion of the kitchen, they were excited by the thought of teens learning to cook and bake.
“I am picturing using the big open space to do some ‘family meals in the kitchen’ with the teens and the fun and laughter that goes along with everyone joining together to share a meal together,” Schafer said. “I can’t wait to see this all get moving forward.”
Settling on the layout of everything is an important decision because once they get the blueprints drawn and start construction, this will be a permanent step, so they want to make sure they get it right the first time so that they will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.
“God has already provided to us these cardboard copies to help us, but there are still a lot of decisions to be made, and we know that He has a perfect plan for all of this,” Schafer said.
That wasn’t the only fun thing that was taking place in the recent past at H15, and it isn’t always the adult leaders who are the driving force behind some of the activities that take place.
On Nov. 2, H15 had an impromptu costume party, and Schafer, his wife Tammy nor any of the board members had anything to do with its creation.
“It was wonderful because it was completely driven by the teens themselves,” Schafer said. “In fact, I didn’t even know I was going to be dressed up until just before lunch, but I got the text from several different people begging me to, so I gave in and went and found something.”
That something turned out to be Mario from Super Mario Brothers fame, and his son Wesley Schafer took on the role of Mario’s famous brother Luigi.
“It was a lot of fun, and I loved seeing the creativity of the teens coming out in their costumes,” Schafer said. “It is kind of sad because most of the teens in this picture will be turning 20 in the coming year, meaning they will no longer be able to attend the center anymore as teens.”
Fortunately, at that point, Schafer said they could enlist as adult volunteers and remain connected to the center.
“We will work hard to stay connected with them and continue to have an impact on them as they continue on into their adult lives,” Schafer said.
Schafer went on to note that another amazing moment derived from that evening was getting to meet Zach and Alexis Didinger’s child for the first time. He said this marks the third newborn for the volunteer crew at H15.
“I can’t wait to see them growing up, and I have a feeling some of them will be coming in here a lot over the years,” Schafer said.
Anyone interested in taking a tour of the new H15 Cardboard Café to better understand the plans for the future of the facility or to simply stop by and take a tour is welcome. All they need to do is call Schafer at 330-231-7147, and he will meet them there at an appointed time. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer may do so by logging on to https://h15ministries.org/apply/, and those wishing to donate to the center may do so by sending a check to H15 Ministries, P.O. Box 105, Millersburg, OH 44654.
Your donation to the nonprofit organization could make a wonderful year-end tax write-off that could touch the lives of teens in a meaningful way.