‘Working for Success’ class holds fundraiser Saturday
NORWICH – Opportunities for Chenango has been assisting people in Chenango County who have multiple barriers to employment, and after leading an eight-week course, the group is now ready to tackle its next task: finding suitable clothes for the participants to wear to an interview.
OFC’s Working for Success program is in collaboration with Catholic Charities, the Chenango County Department of Social Services and Chenango Delaware Otsego Workforce.
Program Coordinator Terri Bickford explained that because of financial hardships, the class needed to come up with a way to get nice clothing for job interviews. In an attempt to do that, the 10 members will hold a fundraiser this weekend.
From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, the Working for Success class will hold a car wash at Smith Ford, across from the Chenango County Fairgrounds.
“They planned everything,” Bickford said of the class members. “They contacted various places, including Smith Ford. Will Tyrrell called back and generously offered the site and also all of the supplies for our event.”
Bickford has been asking local business to help by providing matching funds or products to ensure the fundraiser will benefit each student. Local merchants interested in helping, may contact Bickford at 334-7114.
Bickford explained that the class teaches basic math, reading, writing, communication and computer skills. It also includes on the job training, job coaching, family development referrals, pre employment counseling and development of job search skills. Referrals to the program can be made by any one of a number of agencies.
“This course provides one step up in self sufficiency,” Bickford said. “It gives the students a new attitude and introduces new abilities.”
The Working for Success program was started in 2002 with a grant from the Department of Labor and the State Education Department. The program has been running intermittently since then, based on funding.
Bickford estimates that approximately 40 percent of the students who graduated from the class in previous years are still employed. Approximately 60 percent had gained employment after leaving the program.
Students in the class said they have learned better communication skills and how to work as a team.
“Everyone has learned at least one thing,” said instructor Bob Hobkirk. “It develops a team spirit and gets people to work together.”
The class will be graduating from the program next week. Members are Richard Bliss, Ruth Calderon, Cathy Calhoun, Tara Harshbarger, Kelly Herbert, Stephanie Lockwood, James Moon, Lenamarie Parrotta, Leon Sedore and Abbie Stearns.
OFC’s Working for Success program is in collaboration with Catholic Charities, the Chenango County Department of Social Services and Chenango Delaware Otsego Workforce.
Program Coordinator Terri Bickford explained that because of financial hardships, the class needed to come up with a way to get nice clothing for job interviews. In an attempt to do that, the 10 members will hold a fundraiser this weekend.
From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, the Working for Success class will hold a car wash at Smith Ford, across from the Chenango County Fairgrounds.
“They planned everything,” Bickford said of the class members. “They contacted various places, including Smith Ford. Will Tyrrell called back and generously offered the site and also all of the supplies for our event.”
Bickford has been asking local business to help by providing matching funds or products to ensure the fundraiser will benefit each student. Local merchants interested in helping, may contact Bickford at 334-7114.
Bickford explained that the class teaches basic math, reading, writing, communication and computer skills. It also includes on the job training, job coaching, family development referrals, pre employment counseling and development of job search skills. Referrals to the program can be made by any one of a number of agencies.
“This course provides one step up in self sufficiency,” Bickford said. “It gives the students a new attitude and introduces new abilities.”
The Working for Success program was started in 2002 with a grant from the Department of Labor and the State Education Department. The program has been running intermittently since then, based on funding.
Bickford estimates that approximately 40 percent of the students who graduated from the class in previous years are still employed. Approximately 60 percent had gained employment after leaving the program.
Students in the class said they have learned better communication skills and how to work as a team.
“Everyone has learned at least one thing,” said instructor Bob Hobkirk. “It develops a team spirit and gets people to work together.”
The class will be graduating from the program next week. Members are Richard Bliss, Ruth Calderon, Cathy Calhoun, Tara Harshbarger, Kelly Herbert, Stephanie Lockwood, James Moon, Lenamarie Parrotta, Leon Sedore and Abbie Stearns.
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