Vanguard Employees Heartened by Their Experiences as Volunteers at Thorndale’s Handi-Crafters

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Handi-Crafters runs one of the largest employment and support service programs in southeastern Pennsylvania. At its work center in Thorndale, individuals with developmental and physical disabilities are part of a talented and empowered workforce. Not to be overlooked, though, is the contribution of volunteers from local corporations who partner with and befriend Handi-Crafters’ clients, while helping them meet production goals.

“A nonprofit organization wants to share its story, and there is no better way to do that than by engaging volunteers,” said April Ennis-Pierson, Director of Development at Handi-Crafters. “It’s sharing what we do here with those who care and want to know more. Giving time is so important.”

Giving back to the community through volunteering is an initiative shared by a number of local companies, including Vanguard, the employees of which donated more than 75,000 hours of time and talent in various activities last year. In one of the “Vanguard Gives Back” programs, employees are given a paid VTO (Volunteer Time Off) day to help communities in any way and at any place they like.

For the past two years, Greg Kuzmenchuk, a Project Manager in Vanguard’s Institutional Division, used his paid time off to help out at Handi-Crafters.

“You can choose to use your VTO day for community service, and at Handi-Crafters we do it as part of a team event,” said Kuzmenchuk. “I reached out to April last year and said Vanguard would be interested in coming in to do some volunteer work. We are able to bring about 11-15 people. I feel very fortunate to work for a company that allows this, that believes in something so strongly that they will give you that paid day off.”

Handi-Crafters offers businesses a socially responsible outsourcing alternative to meet production, packaging, and distribution goals at its 24,000-square-foot work center. On the most recent day that Kuzmenchuk and his team volunteered, they helped assemble seed packet kits, alongside the regular workers at Handi-Crafters, for a major retailer.

“We partner with the special needs employees who are there, and we help each other out and interact and talk,” said Kuzmenchuk. “There is usually a supervisor at each area you report to, but you are interacting all the time with the employees you work with. You have a conversation. They ask what you do and are very excited to be with you.”

Indeed, it is that experience of communicating and working side by side with special needs employees that Kuzmenchuk and his team find so rewarding. After last year, Kuzmenchuk was even approached by his manager who enjoyed the experience so much that he wanted to bring the team back again this year.

“It’s the interaction with the associates there,” said Kuzmenchuk.At first, you’re in that setting and nobody wants to say anything. Then, all of a sudden, there is a smile, and before you know it, you’ve built a conversation. The employees are looking for someone to interact with, someone who cares about them, and you become part of the assembly line. That’s how the Handi-Crafters experience touches a lot of people.”

Ennis-Pierson is the contact for those who want to volunteer at Handi-Crafters. She agrees that a day volunteering on the production floor can be a rewarding experience. While packaging and parts assembly give people a break from looking at a computer all day long, it also helps businesses see how Handi-Crafters operates as a nonprofit and how it is developing the skills and teamwork among individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

“Vanguard gives their workers the opportunity to go out into the community and volunteer their time, and we appreciate those opportunities,” she said. “It’s giving the people a break from what they do and an appreciation for what our world is like. Volunteers will get to know those with intellectual and physical disabilities and understand that these people have talents and abilities that enable them to shine in the workplace.”

For volunteer opportunities, contact April Ennis-Pierson at 610-384-6990 x 206.

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