When you look good, you feel good.
Stop by the new Hugs Café headquarters in downtown McKinney for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the first thing you’ll notice – other than the bright smiling faces – is the black chef uniforms decorated with fruits and vegetables.
The café functions as a full-service restaurant, but what makes it truly special are the people who work there: adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Over the summer, the café moved a few blocks east to a new, two-story facility on Andrews Street. The new building greatly expands what Hugs can offer, including a computer lab, a separate industrial training kitchen with fryers and pizza ovens, plus classrooms and office space.
The place was stocked with everything, including the kitchen sink, but they needed new uniforms for the chefs.
Enter the CoServ Charitable Foundation (CCF). Hugs Café was awarded a CCF Operation Roundup® last year for new uniforms, and they quickly received rave reviews from the employees.
CoServ Charitable Foundation awarded Hugs Café Inc. a grant for $4,130 for the purchase of uniforms for Hugs Café, Hugs Greenhouse, and Hugs Training Academy.
Brian Elledge
Hugs Cafe hostesses Marty Cole and Edith Jackson celebrate the grand opening July 2, 2026. The uniforms were purchased thanks to an Operation Roundup® grant from the CoServ Charitable Foundation.
Nicholas Sakelaris
“Opening a new facility, we hadn’t been able to invest in new uniforms in three years,” CEO Lauren Smith said. “It makes our employees proud to show up for work in a fresh and current ensemble that makes them feel excited for the day.”
The city of McKinney celebrated the opening of the Hugs Café Headquarters at 221 Andrews St. with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration on July 2.
McKinney Mayor Bill Cox said Hugs Café is a model for the entire world.
“Our community is stronger when every person has the opportunity to contribute and be of value and have a sense of belonging,” Bill said. “[Hugs] created meaningful opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn, grow, build friendships and develop greater independence.”
With the new building, Hugs Café plans to hire 20 additional staff, Hugs Founder Ruth Thompson said.
“This is a place where lives will be changed for many, many decades to come,” Ruth said. “The joy in this building is unbelievable.”
Danielle Bailey and Kalyn Bradley prepare food after the grand opening for the Hugs Café Headquarters in downtown McKinney.
Nicholas Sakelaris
Hunter Heinrichs at the Hugs Greenhouse
Brian Elledge
Finding Purpose at the Hugs Greenhouse
Not everyone wants to work in a restaurant – some people like Hunter Heinrichs like to have their hands in the dirt, growing plants for the Hugs Greenhouse.
Hugs opened the greenhouse in 2018, and Hunter was one of the first people they hired. He beams with pride as he talks about the salvias, poinsettias, petunias, and pansies that he is responsible for. They sell the flowers in bulk to cities, homeowner associations, and farmers markets to beautify roads and neighborhoods.
“I’m an outdoor person. My passion for horticulture and wildlife influenced me. I love taking care of plants,” Hunter said.
Like the café employees, greenhouse employees also received their own uniforms funded by the CCF grant.
“I love these new uniforms. I love the material because if it’s in the hotter time of year, it’s not too thick,” Hunter said. “Thank you so much for all that.”
If you participate in Operation Roundup®, you’re a part of this story. Every month, those small contributions help fund organizations like Hugs Café. It’s a powerful reminder that when a community comes together, even the smallest contributions can create opportunities that last a lifetime.
