Ontatrio Community Foundation donates to local company

News from the Ontario Community Foundation:

The Ontario Community Foundation has made a grant in the amount of $10,000 to OPARC, a non-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities, to construct a mezzanine storage unit at its Work Activity Program in Montclair.

OPARC's Work Activity Program provides opportunities for adults with autism, epilepsy, Down Syndrome to work full-time in a packaging and assembly operation serving local business. More than 200 clients are enrolled.

Additional storage is needed, according to OPARC President/CEO Ron Wolff, so that the agency can accept jobs with higher volume. "We already have a loading dock. But mezzanine storage will increase our capacity for raw materials and finished products by about 20 pallets."

OPARC, founded in 1950, is celebrating its 60th year of service to adults with developmental disabilities. "You should see the pride and feeling of accomplishment these workers exhibit when they get their paychecks," Wolff commented.

The Work Activity Program has on-going relationships with many local businesses already, including large companies like Simpson Strong-Tie and family-owned businesses like McCoy Enterprises.