www.Parctel.com: The trio of Sidney Minott, Angela Blandino and Tonii Harris were all smiles as they bounded from a white van in the economy parking lot at Jacksonville International Airport. It was 3 p.m., and a short rain shower had turned the lot into a sauna in the August sun.
Armed with 5-gallon buckets and squeeze-trigger mechanical “grabbers,” they fanned out to different corners and began collecting trash. A cigarette butt, a lighter, a can of soda, a nearly microscopic tear of paper – nothing went unnoticed, and within minutes the buckets were nearly overflowing.
The group hardly had time to gather in front of the terminal for a photo as they continued to pick up any debris they passed.
“They are always working,” smiled supervisor Tamara Bostick. “They never complain and they never miss a day. They truly love their job.”
It’s hard to believe the most enthusiastic and eager employees in Jacksonville may be making minimum wage cleaning up airport parking lots, but this crew makes a strong case.
All three have mental disabilities, and all three have become gainfully employed through The Arc Jacksonville’s employment program. The non-profit group Arc, which used to stand for Association of Retarded Citizens but has been renamed simply Arc, is a clearing house of resources for people with all kinds of disabilities and their families.
In all, 50 disabled residents who otherwise would likely not have steady jobs are now employed at more than 30 businesses, and another 200 work at the Arc facility on contracts with local companies. The employers get quality labor and acknowledge they are helping an underprivileged segment of the population, while the employees get something even more important – a sense of self worth.
The Arc Jacksonville is about possibilities. They help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities unlock their potential to take on valued roles in the community. Arc Jacksonville services help enhance the quality of life of the individuals that they serve while offering real options within their control.
Arc Jacksonville also help people with disabilities and those who support them make informed choices about services and service providers.
Each day, Arc Jacksonville help more than 400 people discover and unlock the possibilities within themselves.
Full Story on Jacksonville's Financial News and Daily Record.
Arc Jacksonville Site
XML Feeds
