Over 60 representatives—managers, staff, parents, and employees—from 30 Missouri workshops gathered earlier this year at the Capitol, for Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers’ Goods and Services Day.
The annual event, held this year on Jan. 24, is a chance for workshop supporters to show state leaders the dramatic range of workshop products and services – and talk about what workshops do that is often unseen outside of workshops.
Several shops brought jigs and other adaptive devices custom made to help employees with disabilities in ways that private businesses rarely attempt. Others showcased the array of products and services that workshops deliver to both local businesses and large corporations.
Legislators were impressed, with several noting they didn’t realize the extent of workshops' involvement in Missouri’s economy or the many efforts to provide employment choice for Missourians with disabilities.
“It’s a great opportunity for Missouri’s leaders to see what workshops do on many levels,” MASWM President Rob Libera said.
“It is impressive to see how many services the workshops across the state offer! Our legislators are always amazed by the abilities of our nearly 5,000 employees statewide,” states Natalie Couch, Executive Director of Lake Area Industries. In Camden County, Lake Area Industries serves 55 individuals by offering services such as packaging and assembly, secure document destruction, cardboard and dock foam recycling, mobile work crews, and even operates their highly popular garden center, Gifted Gardens.
For more information on Missouri workshops, visit moworkshops.org. and for more information on your local workshop, Lake Area Industries, visit lakeareaindustries.org.
