Stop & Shop Recognized for Employing Individuals w/ Disabilities

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

As part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Stop & Shop East Meadow (2525 Hempstead Turnpike) has been recognized by the New York State Department of Education for employing individuals with disabilities.

The East Meadow store was nominated by Hellen Keller Services for the Blind for employing Andy Castro, a twenty-six-year-old resident of Uniondale who has worked as a bagger at Stop & Shop since March of 2019.

“Andy is a go-getter. He loves his job and is always looking for extra responsibilities,” said

Michelle Riley, Customer Service Manager at the East Meadow Stop & Shop. “He is an asset to the store and is appreciated by all of his colleagues, as well as the customers he interacts with at checkout.”

Castro works four hours a day, four days a week and Riley says the only indication that customers have that Andy is legally blind is when he pulls out his magnifying glass.

“I really love this job. I like helping people and Stop & Shop gives me the opportunity to do that each day I come to work,” said Andy Castro. “Stop & Shop values me as an associate, my coworkers are kind, supportive and offer assistance when it is needed. From the day I began working here, our customers were very supportive and encouraging.”

"We congratulate Andy for his outstanding accomplishments and the Hellen Keller Services team couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the process,” said Sue Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services. "Andy has demonstrated what we already know and share with employers far and wide: hiring a diverse workforce inclusive of individuals who are blind or have disabilities is good for business and good for all of us.”

“This reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement, especially during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said New York State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa. “New Yorkers of all abilities should be provided with equitable career and employment opportunities.”

“This annual celebration raises awareness about supporting the employment of people with disabilities and allows us to honor businesses that value diversity among its workforce,” Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said. “The businesses that we recognize this month work to help eliminate employment opportunity gaps for individuals with disabilities by prioritizing diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices and we commend them for their work.”

Stop & Shop prides itself on being an inclusive workplace, believing that the voices of our team members should reflect a diverse set of ideas, experiences, and backgrounds.