MANASQUAN— A recent Gift from the Heart fundraiser event aimed to help adults with disabilities get a proper start to their careers in a working setting.
Phyllis Thomson and Jane Carroll, co-founders of A Gift from the Heart, held a special fundraiser for this new organization at the Manasquan Elks Lodge in order to raise money to help purchase a storefront in the Manasquan or Point Beach communities to better help and better reach more individuals with special needs.
This organization aims to work with any and all special needs young adults, no matter what kind of worker they are. Ms. Thomson said she has gotten all types of workers, from some who understand what needs to be done right away, to those who may need more one-on-one assistance. Ms. Thomson and Ms. Carroll aim to provide these young adults with specialized care and programs that cater to the needs of each individual person.
Sally Capotorto, a parent of a special needs child and close friend to Ms. Thomson, said, “We had a really tough time finding a program that will fit [her child’s] needs, so we designed our own program, and now [Ms. Thomson] is opening up her store, giving [my child] an opportunity to work, feel valued and feel a part of the community. There are not enough opportunities for young adults with disabilities, so [Ms. Thomson] sees that need, and she knows her students, and hopes to help other young adults with disabilities who want to be a part of the community.”
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