Many of them carried ribbons for their achievements at the Special Olympics, others were eager to boast about lending a helping hand, and some simply wore a smile because they were happy to be there.
As a result, the atmosphere was vibrant at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen in Bangor on Wednesday morning while a group of special needs volunteers prepared to serve a full-course meal to more than 100 people expected to visit the dining hall, which is operated by The Salvation Army.
The volunteers, a group of local residents with developmental disabilities, were working through the Bangor Community Supports Program run by Downeast Horizons, a social services provider for Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Hancock counties.
The program provides volunteers with the building blocks of social skills, in addition to enhancing their daily lives through productive activities, according to Tony Zambrano, executive director of Downeast Horizons.
“This is a way for people who usually receive services to make a difference and give back to their communities in a meaningful way,” said Zambrano, with nothing short of pride in his voice as he oversaw the group’s work in the kitchen.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Bangor (ME) Daily News.
No comments:
Post a Comment