Doing Good Report: "Open Avenues" Non-Profit Group
By: Matt Turner
Updated: May 7, 2012
Every day, a place in Benton County proves that people with disabilities have the ability to learn new skills and be productive citizens.
It's a non-profit group called Open Avenues and the day we visited, the warehouse was packed with more than 120 people ages 16 and up who were working together on various projects.
"The way they qualify to work here is to have a diagnosis of a disability," said Allison McElroy. "It doesn't matter what kind," the Foundation Director added.
Wesley Lombardo is new to the program after recently graduating from Heritage High School in Rogers. "I was actually looking for a job to come to and I couldn't find anything," Lombardo said. "So I came to Open Avenues and they're just wonderful people here."
Along with a fleet of buses to pick up their clients with disabilities, the non-profit group also has a new facility with plenty of room for workers to socialize and learn job skills. According to Lombardo, "It's fun to do them...because once you learn, you can go out and get another job and hopefully keep that job."
McElroy said companies outsource their work to Open Avenues which allows the group to use its workforce to complete jobs. The workers are paid based on how many items they complete but McElroy says making money isn't the only motivation.
"They want to help themselves. They don't want to sit at home and play video games and sit on the couch and watch TV all day," McElroy said. "They want to work and learn something to better themselves and they're happy to be here."
But those workers aren't alone, with McElroy saying she enjoys being a part of Open Avenues just as much as anyone else. "I've worked here 17 years and every day I think how much I love my job -- and it's because it's inspiring!"
To learn more about Open Avenues and how you can help this local non-profit group, just visit the following website: www.openavenues.org
It's a non-profit group called Open Avenues and the day we visited, the warehouse was packed with more than 120 people ages 16 and up who were working together on various projects.
"The way they qualify to work here is to have a diagnosis of a disability," said Allison McElroy. "It doesn't matter what kind," the Foundation Director added.
Wesley Lombardo is new to the program after recently graduating from Heritage High School in Rogers. "I was actually looking for a job to come to and I couldn't find anything," Lombardo said. "So I came to Open Avenues and they're just wonderful people here."
Along with a fleet of buses to pick up their clients with disabilities, the non-profit group also has a new facility with plenty of room for workers to socialize and learn job skills. According to Lombardo, "It's fun to do them...because once you learn, you can go out and get another job and hopefully keep that job."
McElroy said companies outsource their work to Open Avenues which allows the group to use its workforce to complete jobs. The workers are paid based on how many items they complete but McElroy says making money isn't the only motivation.
"They want to help themselves. They don't want to sit at home and play video games and sit on the couch and watch TV all day," McElroy said. "They want to work and learn something to better themselves and they're happy to be here."
But those workers aren't alone, with McElroy saying she enjoys being a part of Open Avenues just as much as anyone else. "I've worked here 17 years and every day I think how much I love my job -- and it's because it's inspiring!"
To learn more about Open Avenues and how you can help this local non-profit group, just visit the following website: www.openavenues.org
