HOME DEPOT TEAM MEMBERS PLANTING SEEDS OF KINDNESS AND GROWTH

In support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) employees of Home Depot in Coram, donated their time and materials to further enhance the Horticulture Program at Winters Center for Autism. 

"We are incredibly thankful for Howard Hafkin, Coram Store Manager of Home Depot, along with his colleagues who selected Winters Center for Autism to receive three raised vegetable planting beds along with supplies. They also were generous enough to provide our Center with beautiful mums to help decorate the building." Christine Ponzio, Executive Director, Winters Center for Autism.

Program participants were delighted to learn how to build and install raised garden beds. One participant shared, "hammering the wooden boards to build the garden beds was my favorite part of the whole process."

Adrian, an intern at the Center was so grateful seeing a smile on each person's face throughout the entire workshop. 

"Thank you to Howard and his team for this amazing opportunity that afforded participants to work together to assemble the beds and learn more about what it takes to maintain a healthy vegetable garden." Lisa Lee, Community Resource Coordinator, Winters Center for Autism.

 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism. The unemployment rate for individuals with autism exceeds 85%. The Winters Center for Autism provides job services including job training, career planning, interview preparation, exploration of volunteer and educational opportunities, and employer assistance to develop easy to implement employment programs for people with autism.  Jobs can give people a sense of fulfillment and purpose.  Identifying businesses in Long Island community who want to be a part of making a difference is the key to changing the landscape of unemployment for adults with autism. 

Howard Hafkin, Coram store Manager at Home Depot, who has a nephew with autism, shared: " To be able to come and contribute  means something so personal to me, this was truly an outstanding experience. "
​
#winterscenterforautism #hireforahigherpurpose