Joan Van Kuyken Prep Cook Assistant, Granny’S Buffet, Coeur D’Alene

Personal: 38 years old, Coeur d’Alene resident.

Wages: $5.50 per hour.

Hours: Van Kuyken works six hours per week at Granny’s.

Job Coach: Bob Baker of TESH Inc. is her coach and on-the-job mentor. Van Kuyken is a client of TESH, a nonprofit agency that helps developmentally disabled people with vocational and life skills.

Job Duties: “I do what they tell me to. I usually do the strawberries in the summertime and the baked potatoes when they have them.” She also prepares bread for stuffing and bread pudding, and restocks supplies for the salad bar.

Best part of the job: “It’s easy … People are nice … I like the food.”

Quote: “Next Friday is payday. Paydays are good. I’m going Christmas shopping.”

Job skills learned: Working at Granny’s has taught Van Kuyken patience and budgeting, according to Baker. “Joanie needs a job that doesn’t change from day to day,” he said. “They (Granny’s management) are accommodating.”

Number of years at Granny’s: Three in January. “She has never missed a day of work,” Baker said.