This Ice Cream Shop's Mission Is to Train Disadvantaged Young Adults for Success (Grab Your Tissues!)

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Grab your tissues — this one's going to pull at your heartstrings!

Robert Vedral is the general manager of the non-profit ice cream shop Alphabet Scoop in NYC — but he's so much more than a manager.

He's also a mentor.

Beyond serving up delicious sweets, Robert is in charge of hiring the young-adult employees — all of whom have faced challenges in their communities or personal lives — and he trains them in all things business, from the importance of being on time to customer service.

And in the process, he hopes to put them on the path towards success.

"It's a launching point for [these] young people to have a career and a future," Robert explains.

The motto? "We don't fire anyone here," he says. "We accept that there are going to be mistakes. There are going to be challenges, and that's part of a training program."

And that attitude is one that the shop's young employees really appreciate — and show up devoted because of.

"My grandma passed away at a very young age for me," says one employee named Jovani. "So it was just me and my sister. We had to mature real fast and pay bills on our own, so Alphabet Scoop gave me the opportunity to work and pay bills, and help my family out as much as I can."

Employee Shelby adds, "I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin, and I'm hoping to take that with me wherever I go."

Well, with testimonials like that, how could we NOT do a little something to help the shop out?

We told ZipRecruiter about the amazing work going on at Alphabet Scoop, and they donated $5,000 to the cause. (And you, too, can support the cause!)

Pretty amazing right?!

See Robert, Jovani and Shelby's reaction in the video above!