WorkAbility Program Empowers Youth
Not only do our resale stores provide affordable, sustainable items, but they’re also community spaces where volunteers can gain meaningful experiences. At our San Marcos resale store, we’ve partnered with the San Marcos Unified School District’s WorkAbility program to help empower youth and adults with disabilities. Participants gain meaningful work experience and acquire marketable skills by helping in many ways at our San Marcos store.
Volunteering at our San Marcos store has been a transformative experience for many students, allowing them to develop essential skills and confidence. Our San Marcos store manager, Mary, shares:
“CRC has been partnering with the San Marcos Unified School District WorkAbility program since 2009 to help young individuals with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace. Our aim is to instill in them that their disabilities do not define their potential and that they can achieve their goals through hard work and determination. I have seen some of the young people thrive in their careers at Legoland and even start their own businesses.”
Mary, San Marcos Store Manager
During this 15-year partnership, we have had over 43 students. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support these students and are excited to continue making a positive impact in their lives and the community. Mary shares, “Our approach focuses on treating everyone with the same expectations and providing them with the opportunity to reach their full potential while volunteering at CRC in San Marcos. We are grateful.”
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff at San Marcos Unified for sending these amazing students our way. Special appreciation goes to Abraham and Joseph, two recent incredible students from the WorkAbility program, who were a tremendous help. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
The WorkAbility I program is funded and administered by the California Department of Education through the Special Education Department. The WAI program offers students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) the opportunity to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable job skills. WAI provides secondary students with an understanding of job seeking and job keeping skills.
