Children with disabilities have a harder time celebrating the holidays. That's why Tuesday and Wednesday, Happy Joe's will be holding their annual pizza party for children with special needs.
Marketing Director Kristel Ersan, and Happy Joe's daughter, says the party started the same year the restuarant opened, because of an experience her father had at a different restaurant.
"A mother came in to sort of get pre-permission to bring her child in [to the restaurant] and he couldn't understand why. She said he had special needs and just wanted to make sure it would be okay for him to come in. My dad thought that was crazy, that she had to ask permission - or she thought she did - so he basically committed to opening to doors for all families with children with special needs and making sure they knew they were welcome at Happy Joe's."
This year they'll host about 1,500 children at four different parties. Special accommodations are made for children that need extra help. Kids will enjoy food, special guests, and a dance party.
"These kids don't get to go to dance parties very often and it is their chance to really let loose, and a lot of them will practice their moves, you know, knowing that the party is coming up again. So, that's their kind of moment to shine which is really fun."
Ersan says families who are interested in joining next year can contact the Happy Joe's offices. The party is funded through the Happy Joe's Kids Foundation.