A Gift From the Heart
Where Every Creation is Unique and Made with Love
A Gift from the Heart
More About Us
Our mission is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing them with job training and socialization.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing them with job training and socialization.
We will foster independence while continuing to teach them how to create, design, produce, and package items that will be sold in our gift shop. Our adults will work within their abilities but will always be encouraged to gain new skills.
Our Journey
What began as a career in the teaching profession led to the creation of a self-contained, multiple-disability program in a local high school. The program not only addressed life skills, but also, addressed employment skills for the students involved.
The program in the high school was created with the hopes of helping the students prepare and be able to attain employment and be functioning members of society. While in high school the students created a line of giftware that they designed, produced, packaged, and sold to retail stores in the community.
Depending on their abilities and skills, some designed products, some fabricated the products, packaged and tagged the products, while others kept track of production, inventory, sales, and profits. Local stores carried the products and sold a great deal of the items.
It was evident that the products are worthy of resale in high-end gift shops. There is a need and place for these young adults in our community in a retail setting.
In the absence of training programs and businesses willing to train and employ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the decision was made to start a business to help them reach their potential.
The business' framework is set up to address unique and varied impairments by targeting communication, social skills, and self-management.
It is designed to prepare them for working in the community.
Board of Directors
President
Phyllis Thomson
Vice President
Thomas Carroll
Secretary/Treasurer
Jane Carroll
Advisory Board
Emily Carroll
Kathy Neil
Vickie Moran
Matthew Jordan, Esq
Joe Leone Introna
Ryan Thomson