PLUS
Perspectives
Giving Back To The Community
Staff and clients from the vocational program offered
WILD IRISH BREAKFAST RAFFLE (this must be received before 3/11)
Mail to: The PLUS Company, 19 Chestnut Street
Nashua, NH 03060 Attn: Lisa D’Errico
___ I would like to purchase ____tickets
A check for _____ is enclosed
Name _______________________________________________________
Address _ ___________________________________________________
City, State, Zip _______________________________________________
Phone & Email _______________________________________________
Winter 2013
Glenn Totman picks up soup from Chef Charlie at Villa
Banca in Nashua to help support of the annual Empty
Bowls fundraiser.
There Is Still Time To Support
The Wild Irish Breakfast!
this issue
• From The Director’s Desk
• Focus On Job Training
• John Howard Retires From Board
• Class Teaches More Than Cooking
• Giving Back To The Community
Raffle tickets are available from PLUS Pride athletes until March 13 or at
The PLUS Company’s Nashua office until March 14. Proceeds help support
the educational and athletic programs. Tickets are just $5 each, or three
for $10. Prizes include a Trip for two to Ireland, Southwest Airline Tickets,
NASCAR Tickets, Celtics Tickets, and a Trek Mountain Bike. Phone 603889-0652 for more information, or visit us at www.pluscompany.org.
Pictured, left to right are: Kim Shottes, Executive Director of The PLUS Company; program participant Shane Burke; Vickie Routhier, Bank of New Hampshire Sr.
Vice President Director of Marketing; program participant Corey Dion; and Leni Hodgins, Director of Adult Education at PLUS.
From The Director’s Desk
The past several months have been particularly busy
for senior staff members as the agency works to create a three
year strategic plan. The plan lays out goals and objectives
to serve as a road map for the agency and has required staff
to look at better coordinating programs and services that all
move along the same path. One primary goal is an increased
emphasis on providing clients with skills for employment and
independence. This overarching theme reaches across every
area of the agency - from our vocational programs to adult
education classes, staff trainings, and into our residential areas.
It also sets the theme for our marketing efforts and the skill sets
needed in selecting new hires. This initiative will tie together
all planning into the foreseeable future. Helping jump start our
goal was a recent donation from The Bank of New Hampshire
who has generously underwritten a money management/
financial literacy program. The class lays the groundwork for
The PLUS Company to create more community partnerships to
help our clients learn additional skills and improve their levels
of independence. In this issue we share just a few of the steps
taken to move along this trajectory.
– Kim Shottes
“Empower Individuals, Maximize Independence”
at The PLUS Company Nashua office took part in the annual Empty
Bowls event held at Nashua High School South on February 20th. Empty
Bowls bring students, community groups and individuals together to
raise money and food for The Nashua High South Panther Pantry and
the Nashua Soup Kitchen. Volunteers made 700 bowls, collected donations from area restaurants and businesses, and sold the bowls filled
with soup to raise funds for the Pantry and Soup Kitchen. The vocational
clients and staff members coordinated and picked up soup, gift cards,
and gift baskets from a variety of area restaurants and retailers and delivered them to the High School. “An event of this magnitude relies on a
huge amount of manpower to make certain that things run smoothly. We
were happy to pitch in with the High School to support their fundraiser.
Giving back to the community allows our clients to develop skills, team
work, and provides a sense of accomplishment,” stated Carole Sullivan,
Vocational Coordinator at The PLUS Company.
19 Chestnut Street
Nashua, NH 03060
603-889-0652
www.pluscompany.org
PERMIT #575
Manchester, NH
PAID
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
Long Serving Board Member John Howard Retires
Training Program Interns Excited to Learn Job Skills
On January 17th The Board of Directors
bid a fond farewell to long serving member John
Howard. Members of the Board shared meaningful
remarks on the impact John has had on the agency,
and how difficult it will be for anyone new to fill his
shoes. John shared memories of the changes in the
programs and opportunities for individuals living with
developmental disabilities that he has witnessed over
the years. The board presented John with several
gifts including a framed piece of client artwork. We
wish John well in his future endeavors. Serving on The
Board of Directors for The PLUS Company is a great
way to make a direct impact on the agency and have
an influence on its future.
Main Office
19 Chestnut Street
Nashua, NH 03060
603-889-0652
Best of luck to departing Board Member
John Howard
Class Teaches More Than Cooking
The members of the newest class of INCOME Program students meet
with Kim Shottes as part of their orientation
Programs which combine internships with classroom
trainings have proved to be an effective method in helping clients find
meaningful employment opportunities. The PLUS Company currently
offers individuals with disabilities three career training programs:
Project Search, The STRIDE Program, and The INCOME Program. A
new program is in the early stages which will combine classroom and
internship opportunities in the retail sector. Project Search has been
operating at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua since 2009. The school-towork program offers total workplace immersion and provides participants
the opportunity to rotate through many healthcare and service industry
related experiences. The STRIDE Program is operated at Lowell General
Hospital in partnership with Sodexo, the leading provider of integrated
food and facilities management services in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
STRIDE provides a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career
exploration, and one-on-one job training. Participants receive the training
and skills necessary to become gainfully employed upon completion of
the program. The INCOME Program, operated out of the PLUS offices in
Nashua, provides opportunities for individuals interested in working in an
office environment. Participants combine 3 weeks of classroom training
with 150 hours of internship experience in office work.
“The success that you and your staff continue to achieve through the
STRIDE program is a shining light for employment opportunity for people
with intellectual disabilities in our area.”- Fred Nazzaro, Area Director, MA
Department of Developmental Services
The INCOME program recently welcomed their newest class. On their first
day, members toured The PLUS Company and learned about the various
jobs that staff members hold. In addition to learning about functions of
operating a business, the participants learned to take notes on names, titles
and job functions. During the tour the students asked great questions and
were introduced to office jobs they may not have known even existed. To
immediately set the tone of the importance of really listening, they were
quizzed afterward on the people and jobs they learned about. The group was
off to a strong start with the students scoring high marks on their listening
skills! Participants in the INCOME program are learning the skills necessary
to work in an office environment. Through a combination of classroom,
internships, and mentoring, graduates of the program are prepared to find
competitive employment using the knowledge and skills obtained during the
18 week program. The first group of graduates had a 100% job placement,
and the recent December group is well on their way to finding meaningful
job placements.
All of the hands-on training programs allow participants to learn about job
opportunities and learn employability skills through instruction, on-the-job
training, and support. By graduation, participants have created resumes,
practiced interviewing and developed the confidence and skills to succeed.
Please contact Laurie Corbett at 603-889-0652 or at sectorbasedtraining@
pluscompany.org if you are interested in opening your business to an intern,
or in learning more about hiring our well-trained graduates.
Internship Program Continues to Create New
and Better Employment Opportunities
Total Program Outcomes:
63 Graduates • 56 placed (89% placement rate)
Average hourly wage $8.98 ($7.25 - $18.45)
Average hours 15.3 (4 - 35)
The PLUS
Company, Inc.
Lawrence Office
151 Hampshire Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-689-8829
Tewksbury Office
885 Main Street, Unit #5
Tewksbury, MA 01876
978-640-3936
“Empower Individuals
Maximize Independence”
www.pluscompany.org
www.facebook.com/pluscompany
Executive Director
Kim Shottes
Amir demonstrates safe use of a blender to Stacey and Sarah
Members of the Vocational Program
have been enjoying the opportunity to learn skills in
the kitchen and raising their level of independence
in doing so. Every week, participants prepare a
different entrée, appetizer or snack. Recently the
group has made homemade granola and shakes. The
items vary and often are selected in collaboration
with a project being made in the creative crafts
class. In fact, for Valentine’s Day the group prepared
sugar free candies and made decorative boxes to
wrap them in for sharing. The classes are led by
Stacey Garofano with Amir assisting in planning and
preparation. Stacy has been careful to keep portion
sizes small and sugar levels low. She also works to
select recipes that will be simple enough for the
participants to replicate at home. Stacey and Amir’s
goals are to make cooking fun, and to teach the class
members that good food can be healthy, and often
a better option than fast food. In addition to kitchen
skills, the participants learn about hygiene as it
pertains to food preparation and clean-up, as well as
the importance of eating nutritious foods. Best of all,
they learn to work together, try new foods, and gain
confidence.
Board of Directors
Robert Purcell (Chairman)
Joseph Marshall (Vice Chairman)
Michael Monks (Secretary)
Tim Kerrigan (Treasurer)
Claire Boucher
Edgar Carter
Paul Clark
Chris Karski
Mayor Donnalee Lozeau
Kathleen Rice Orshak
Sandy Pelletier
Bernard Streeter