Teaching through treats

Candy machines help local boy learn life skills, educate others

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Candy machines filled with Hot Tamales, M&Ms and other favorite treats will soon appear in Seward businesses. 

Behind the eight machines will be 17-year-old Brian Rolfsmeyer, who has autism. Brian’s parents, Mark and Laurie, helped him purchase the machines and are now teaching him how to refill the machines and remove the money. 

“Before we start putting them in businesses, we wanted to work with Brian, the school will work with Brian as part of his education to learn how to fill them and take the money out,” Mark said. “We want to find local businesses that are willing to put a candy machine in their building.”

Laurie said the hope of the project is to get Brian involved in the community and learn new life skills such as counting money. 

“It will help him learn that money has a value,” she said. “He can use that money to buy his snacks and other things he likes.”

Additionally, Mark said it will help him become more comfortable with social settings and allow more people to become familiar with his story. 

“It’s difficult to take him into social situations because sometimes his behavior can be extreme,” he said. “We’re hoping to help him feel more comfortable.

“We’ve experienced a few occasions where Brian wasn’t accepted and his behavior is sometimes looked at as poor parenting, so we feel the need to educate people a little more.”

In order to help fund the project, the Seward Kiwanis Club provided a donation, as did the local Cross Makers chapter. Other individuals have contributed as well. 

Mark said the family has been overwhelmed by the support Brian’s project has received. 

“There aren’t a lot of resources statewide to help with our situation, so it’s overwhelming how the community has gotten behind us,” Mark said. 

Laurie added that along with the donations have come more questions about Brian and in what other ways people can help. 

“People want to know what they can do to help, what Brian’s future looks like,” she said. 

Mark and Laurie expect the machines to be out in the community in May. She said some businesses have already agreed to host a machine, but more are available. Any one interested in a machine can contact Laurie at (402) 613-2832.