Hidden Gems: Meet Jonah Taylor of Jonah Vending LLC

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonah Taylor

Hi Jonah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Jonah Taylor’s parents have the opinion that anyone can work with the right level of supports. With that perspective in mind, when Jonah turned 16 years old, they approached a local donut shop to see if there was an opportunity for Jonah to volunteer and contribute to the community. The donut shop owners, together with the Taylor family, explored tasks in the environment, and Jonah began counting donut holes each Saturday morning. Jonah continues to volunteer and has been counting donut holes for almost nine years.

Jonah Vending was launched in 2021 to provide meaningful employment for Jonah Taylor, a young man diagnosed with Autism.

Jonah, together with his parents and his job coach from DPI Employment Connections, sought an opportunity where Jonah’s skills would be maximized while serving in the community. Vending provides Jonah with a structured routine, allowing him to excel.

Jonah Vending provides drink and snack vending services for small to medium sized businesses. The Taylor family discovered that many vending companies focused solely on placing machines with large client organizations, creating an opportunity for Jonah to cater to numerous customers in need of vending services for their employees and patrons.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Jonah is diagnosed with Autism and is a non-speaker.

Jonah’s parents wished for him to find a meaningful purpose and to have the chance to make a contribution to the community. Before establishing Jonah Vending, securing an employment situation where Jonah could work independently, and his parents could feel assured of his safety was a challenge. A traditional employment setting can only thrive if all parties act rightly concerning Jonah’s contributions. Therefore, it is not feasible to merely transport Jonah to and from his workplace, leaving him there with the expectation that he will be consistently treated appropriately by others during his shift.

Jonah’s exploration of employment opportunities encompassed various potential scenarios. His job coach, one day, asked the Taylor family if they had contemplated the vending services sector. Leveraging a business connection with a beverage vendor, Jonah placed his inaugural vending machine in 2021. Since then, Jonah Vending has expanded to offer an array of beverages and snacks, with Jonah delivering outstanding service to satisfy his clients’ vending requirements.

As you know, we’re big fans of Jonah Vending LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Jonah Vending provides drink and snack vending services for small to medium sized businesses.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Jonah takes great pride in his role, and his parents call him the CVO – Chief Vending Officer. Each time Jonah puts on a Jonah Vending shirt with his logo, he beams with excitement and looks forward to servicing his vending clients.

It takes a great level of support and collaboration for Jonah Vending to operate.

Jonah’s clients are extremely supportive of his endeavors. Moreover, numerous individuals back Jonah in his role. Several times a week, Jonah’s grandfather accompanies him to various vending client sites, aiding in the process of restocking machines, verifying expiration dates, and gathering revenue. Additionally, Jonah’s personal assistant and job coach play an active role in supporting him with his vending client services.

Jonah Vending collaborates with a beverage company and a wholesale club to procure the drinks and snacks it provides. Meanwhile, the Taylor family employs a local maintenance service for their vending machines to guarantee proper functioning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jonahvending.com