NASHUA  – When walking around downtown Nashua, one comes across a variety of gift shops. One that sets itself apart from those that are more traditional is Cravings Cafe and Gift Shop, located at 64 E. Pearl St.

This gift shop and cafe is run by Toward Independent Living and Learning, an organization that offers vocational training programs, along with residential, clinical and family support services for individuals with disabilities.

TILL’s mission encompasses the idea of recognizing an individual’s right to “self-expression and self-determination in managing their life.”

The gift shop is associated with Essence of Thyme and Cravings Food Service, another vocational training program through TILL.

Through this program, participants prepare and deliver breakfasts, lunches and snacks for local schools and businesses.

Cravings Cafe and Gift Shop caters to several charter schools and daycares around Nashua, as well. The cafe provides seasonal menus consisting of different sandwiches and salads.

Individuals in the TILL program have the opportunity to work in the kitchen, or they can take a job in the art studio, helping to create some of the gifts offered at the shop.

Currently, there are five individuals with disabilities who are working at the store.

Bill Peterson, business development manager for Cravings Cafe and Gift Shop, calls the shop a “unique boutique.”

“There are unique gifts that not everybody would necessarily have. Most of our items are things that are unique to our store and you wouldn’t find at a big box store,” Peterson said.

Peterson said the TILL organization gives program participants the opportunity to learn skills for future jobs, such as maning a cash register or working in a kitchen, should they want to move on.

“This program will help benefit participants in the future. They can either become a full-time employee with us or move on and work with someone else,” he said.

Peterson said he knows of people from Hyde Park’s TILL program who now hold jobs at Stop and Shop.

“We’re trying to instill some skills in some individuals who will hopefully, at some point, be able to move on and live a normal life for the most part,” Peterson said. “The whole idea behind this organization is to help build people’s confidence.”

Peterson said they also want program participants to feel like they’re part of something.

“People with disabilities should have the opportunity to be a productive member of society,” Peterson said.

Cravings Cafe and Gift Shop has been in business for more than 25 years. Peterson said those who work there become part of one big family.

Program Manager Dawn Lemay-Dube has spent more than 20 years overseeing Cravings.

“We are a vocational training program. We offer front-of-house training (and) retail training. We have a lot of different areas of training, which is great,” Lemay-Dube said. “And we’re not just in the building. We have groups that go out into the community to volunteer.”

Though this is a training program, Lemay-Dube said, they consider it a job.

“We are a business, everybody is expected to be on time, to dress appropriately,” Lemay-Dube added.

The program itself has proven to be beneficial for participants.

“It gives them a sense that they’re being valued. They’re going to work every day. This is their life, and they love it,” Lemay-Dube said. “Even though we are working, we still have a lot of fun.”

The business is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 603-594-1243 or gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.