Sam's Canterbury Cafe

Alpha Xi Delta’s Summer Immersion experience has allowed me to travel places in Maryland that, as a local, I have never been before. Sam’s Canterbury Café is my new-found hidden gem. Not only does it have delicious food and coffee, but their values and commitment to autism are outstanding. This small coffee shop is committed to serving quality food and drink, while providing meaningful employment for individuals with autism on their journey toward independence.

Autism Speaks is the philanthropic partner of Alpha Xi Delta, and I am so thankful to be part of an organization that goes above and beyond to gain a greater understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Part of our mission statement is to support individuals with ASD and what better way to do that than support a local café that employs adults on the spectrum!

One thing that made our lunch extra special was that they closed the café just for us, to get the full Sam’s Canterbury Café experience. Immediately, my group and I felt so welcomed. The staff were incredibly friendly and professional as they greeted us with genuine smiles and provided quality service. Right away, we were seated and handed a menu with so many options; there were even options for pescatarians, vegetarians, gluten-free, etc.… Being a part of a large party with different dietary preferences, I was unsure at first about whether or not the staff could handle an overwhelming amount of orders. However, the food came out in a timely manner and everything was cooked to perfetion. The employees were patient with us and knew the appropriate steps to take when dealing with customers.

I could tell they all loved working there because they were so confident in their skills and worked with a smile on their face. There was mutual respect from both customers and workers, and the positive attitudes were contagious. I think there definitely need to be more places like Sam’s Canterbury Café. People need to go there and see for themselves how amazing and capable these individuals with ASD are!

-Grace Oh

Philanthropy Vice President, George Mason University