The Town of North Hempstead and Albertson’s Viscardi Center came together Friday to thank local organizations who employ people with disabilities.
Town officials joined students from the Viscardi Center, which provides services for children and adults with disabilities, to do some gardening work at the “Yes We Can” Community Center.
The project was part of the New York State Industries for the Disabled’s “NYSID Works!” initiative, which aims to help non-profits in communities that employ people with disabilities.
The Viscardi Center is a partner organization for NYSID, which helps disabled New Yorkers find meaningful jobs. “NYSID Works!” tasks each of partner group with finding local non-profits in need of a small “beautification” project, a town release said.
The volunteers cleaned up the grounds and weeded some new raised garden boxes at the town-owned community center in New Cassel.
North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a statement she was “thrilled” to help with the project.
John Kemp, the Viscardi Center’s president and CEO, said the program is good for its participants and the communities that benefit from it.
“‘NYSID Works!’ raises awareness of the contributions people with disabilities make to our work forces every day, while providing our students with an opportunity to actively give back to the local community,” Kemp said in a statement.
The Port Washington-based Nicholas Center for Autism and Spectrum Designs Foundation designed special T-shirts for the “NYSID Works!” event.
The foundation gives “gainful” jobs to people with autism in its apparel customization shop, a town release said.
