The Haven's camp works at getting jobs for those in need

A four-week camp in Sarasota introduced students to job opportunities with local manufacturers.

By Lesley Dwyer
| 8:00 p.m. July 22, 2023

John Mcclain tours PGT Innovations, a custom windows and doors manufacturer. Students are learning about the manufacturing process, safety protocols and available jobs through The Haven's vocational summer camp.

East County
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The current unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is 3.6%, but for people with disabilities, that number more than doubles to almost 8%.

While The Haven cares for, educates and houses people with disabilities, they also provide job opportunities for any client that wants to work through Haven Industries.

“We’ve got a little over 120 people that we employ,” Chief Operating Officer Alison Thomas said July 20. “One of our biggest expenses here at the agency is our client payroll.”

But Haven Industries isn’t the only place hiring, so staff members created a four-week camp for high school students with disabilities to learn some basic vocational skills and see what possibilities exist in the local job market.

Angela Parkinson, production supervisor at Tervis, gives students a tour of the facility, so they can learn about the packing and distributing process.

A dozen students attended the camp. They toured area manufacturing companies and received hands-on training, learning how to screen a window at PGT Custom Windows and Doors and how to make a tumbler at the Tervis Tumbler Company.

For the first two weeks, students worked on communication and teamwork skills that built up to a two-week internship with PPi Technologies Group. PPi makes standup pouches for food, drinks and other products.

“Campers worked with a few of the employees at PPi to sort the product, perform quality control on the product, package the product and box the product to be shipped out,” The Haven’s Director of Mission Services Don Herndon said. “Having over 25 years of job coaching experience, I can tell you this camp had to be the best summer camp for students with disabilities that I have seen in all my years of working with neurodiverse individuals.”

Dylan Mayes uses the Pouch Burst Test machine at PPi Technologies Group. The machine tests the seal of the pouches before distributing the products to consumers.

Mark Hornyak, Michael Federici and John Mcclain build their own window screen at PGT Innovations.

Students tour local manufacturing plants as part of a summer camp that introduces them to possible job opportunities.

Sophia Gaum, at Aladdin Equipment Company, feels the material before it gets manufactured into pool and spa replacement parts.

Students tour Aladdin Equipment Company with Vice President Carrie Collins as part of the Inclusion Manufacturing Camp through The Haven.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.