SAN ANTONIO — Sherry Ramirez hands a customer a bag of cookies and tells him to “have a blessed day.”
Inside San Antonio’s first Nestlé® Toll House® Café By Chip® on the Northwest side, her attitude is not the only thing that’s sweet.
"My goal my whole life has been to help other people,” Ramirez says with a smile. “I don't have many talents. I'm not super smart, but the one thing I know is that I have a big heart."
Sherry Ramirez sees many others as warriors, but this sweet woman behind the register is a warrior herself.
"I really wanted to be where the action was and on the front line,” Ramirez said. “The Air Force had female fighter pilots; I said, 'I will see if I can cross over.' I crossed over, found my home and loved the Air Force."
14 years later, she went to college and graduated nursing school. She jumped back into the military with the Navy and later, the Air Force.
After 36 years enlisted, her transition to civilian life seems to be going pretty well. And opening this store is allowing her to help others.
"It makes me feel good,” Ramirez says. “We're hiring people with disabilities, veterans, and people that get out. We’re hiring anybody that wants a second chance at life."
Although she is already a success, this store is just another venue to even more opportunities to give back.
"The ultimate mission is to open up a ranch,” Ramirez said. “The proceeds from this cafe go to a ranch for aged-out foster children."
It would be easy for Ramirez to decide to slow down and enjoy the fruits of her labor, but she continues to give back in order to find a new mission right here in San Antonio.