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

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.

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.”