Shopping for ingredients, taking orders, making milkshakes, delivering them, counting money and many other jobs — special education students at Lone Tree are learning a host of new employable skills thanks to Snyder’s Shake Shack, a new program at the Lone Tree school and Wellness Center.

The Shake Shack bears the name of Judy Snyder, a Lone Tree citizen who died in December 2020. Snyder was passionate about both fitness and creating programs for special needs students — her daughter Michelle was a special needs student at Lone Tree.

In June 2021, a 5k memorial walk was held in Judy’s honor. The money raised during that walk will be used to provide further fitness and education opportunities for special needs students. Snyder’s Shake Shack is the first of these programs, giving students a fun way to learn new skills through making and delivering milkshakes to Lone Tree students.

“I had known Judy for over 20 years. We were good friends. Judy was very into fitness, but she also had a daughter who is special needs, so special needs meant a lot to Judy, as well as the fitness side,” said Julie Forbes. “This Shake Shack program is wonderful. I think it’s wonderful they’re doing this. It would make her very happy.”

The Shake Shack offers milkshakes to Lone Tree students and staff once a month.

“Every month we have a flavor of the month,” said Wellness Center director Carmen Donovan. “Last months we did caramel apple pie and this month it’s frozen cocoa.”

Donovan said about 40 students bought shakes in November and, already, the group has 53 orders for this month, with that number still growing.

“We have different jobs for different students, matched to their abilities,” said Blair Harmes, a paraeducator who has helped spearhead the program. “There is the shopping and the sorting and the mixing… whatever pairs with their abilities, we play on it and help them grow for employability purposes.”

Christian Solis is a student who helps with the money side of things.

“Christian helps us with the counting and the sorting,” Harmes said. “He learns with a five-dollar bill is equivalent to and he’s learning how to count it out.”

Jake Dotson helps with the shopping and sorting and putting the groceries away and his sister, Jenna, helps with delivery. Other students involved with the program are Wyatt Yoder, who helps with delivery, and Ryan Schenkel, who helps with delivery and set up.

“This is such a great program,” Harmes said. “It helps the special education kids learn employability skills that they wouldn’t have a chance to learn anywhere else.”