Food Finders
In The News
In 2020, Jennifer Mullett moved her family from Wabash to Lafayette. Her daughter, who has an intellectual disability, was about to finish school and would require different support as an adult. Mullett did her research and found doctors, therapists, and other support that her daughter would need. But all did not go according to plan. Just days after they moved, on March 1, 2020, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seeing a need for her daughter, she founded Plans to Prosper in 2021 with the aim of providing life skills and social opportunities to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, Plans to Prosper serves nearly 50 individuals ranging in age, though the majority remain young adults.
“Our goal is to put ourselves out of business,” said Paige Wojciechowski, Director of Programs and Compliance. “We work to give individuals the skills to live as independently as possible.”
In June 2026, one of the individuals they serve told Wojciechowski about how much they enjoyed volunteering at the Food Finders Fresh Market. This sparked an idea and the connection was made.
“We’re always looking for volunteering opportunities but often they can only accommodate one or two people,” Mullett shared. Food Finders instead presented an opportunity for large groups to support.
It started small, but soon, Plans to Prosper was bringing groups of eight to ten people to volunteer. Each Friday, you can find some of our most dedicated volunteers at the Fresh Market. To date, individuals from Plans to Prosper have volunteered for 100 hours.
The impact goes both ways. Wojciechowski shared a story about an individual who she has worked with extensively. “This person has had a hard time finding things that they like to do. But after her first time at the Fresh Market, she wanted to come back every week. For this person, that was a big step.”
This is not a unique experience. Many of the same individuals return to volunteer week after week, with some even picking up extra shifts on other days. “Often, they struggle to try new things. They do not always like to volunteer for the same organization multiple times, so it was surprising how often they wanted to go back to Food Finders,” Wojciechowski said.
“Volunteering at the Fresh Market also works on important job and social skills,” explained Mullett. “For these individuals, it does not feel like ‘work.’ It is a chance to be social. All they do is laugh and smile while supporting the community.”
Recently, Food Finders hosted a cooking class for Plans to Prosper, where several individuals learned to make a vegetable pasta dish. It was a huge success.
Teaching life skills is a major part of what Plans to Prosper does. “They often want to do things on their own, they have goals to live on their own, so they want to learn many different skills like how to cook,” said Mullett.
“One person shared that she wants an entire book of recipes so that she can go shopping and cook for herself,” Mullett explained. “Seeing it in practice gave her the confidence she needed.”
“Food Finders and Plans to Prosper have been able to grow a wonderful, collaborative relationship which has evolved over the past year,” said Food Finders COO Julie Smart. “It’s wonderful to see how much they enjoy their time with us, as we enjoy having them. We are so very grateful for the partnership.”