ANNUAL PICNIC WAS HOT, HOT, HOT
On Friday, July 21, the Job Training and Day Program division held their annual picnic at Hyde Park. It was hot and sunny with temperatures almost as high as people’s enthusiasm. The crew enjoyed delicious food from Melloni’s and being together while playing games like bean bag toss and soccer. It is always such fun to be with them.
SCANNING AND SHREDDING COMING SOON
Empower will begin offering a scanning and shredding service to the public at the 4701 Military Rd. location. Individuals, nonprofits and small businesses looking to purge backlogs of paper can hand the task off to Empower workers.
Like the redemption center, the scanning and shredding service is an OPWDD Community Pre-vocational Program that provides paid job training to people with developmental disabilities. The goal for these workers is to go on to get jobs in the community. The training they receive will provide the skills and experience needed to make this happen.
Although not open yet, the venture promises to provide another meeting place for people with and without disabilities to interact, achieving integration mandates and improving the public’s understanding and acceptance of developmental disabilities.
MIKE MARRA RECEIVES LIVING THE VALUES AWARD
Mike Marra always has a smile on his face and is willing to lend a hand. That’s why Kim Kiely nominated him for a Living the Values award in June. Mike embodies the value of collaboration in everything he does. From January through June, Mike worked with other staff in the planning of an open house for job placement. He also serves on the golf tournament planning committee, providing essential golf knowledge and relaying key event information to the Niagara Frontier Country Club. For these reasons, Mike was subject of June’s Living the Values video profile.