Meet The Charity: Developmental Disabilities At Center Of Life'sWORC

GARDEN CITY, NY — Local charities are the unsung heroes of our communities. Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations strive to create lasting change and positively impact the lives of those around them.

Some people start organizations as a way to cope with grief, some see an issue they want to tackle, and some want to bring lasting change. Sometimes, all those reasons apply.

Patch wants to highlight your local charity and connect it with community members who want to help and do good, so that way, more people can benefit. Here is just one of many charities doing terrific work in your community.

What is your name?

Vanessa Rogan

What is the name of your charity?

Life'sWORC

What is your position within your charity?

Vice-Chair Board of Directors

What community is your organization based in
Garden City

Link to your website
www.lifesworc.org

What is your mission?
We provide residential and day services, vocational training, employment services, clinical and behavioral care, financial support services, and family and recreational programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities(IDD) and autism.

What does your charity do to further its mission? Please list examples.
In addition to the above, we have summer/holiday camps, offer a variety of classes to children and adults, offer scholarships for parents with financial difficulties, host fundraisers, hold a walk annually for everyone who lives in one of our 45 group homes, their families and friends, staff

What inspired you to start your charity?
Our son, Harry, who has a developmental delay and autism lives in one of our group homes and attends our day program in Garden City

How can people help you accomplish your organization's mission or get involved in events?
We welcome volunteer opportunities to help our individuals, attend one of our fundraisers, donate your valuable time or items for a raffle/auction, learn more about Life'sWORC and help spread the word to friends, family, legislators to help us. We desperately need the government to recognize that the Direct Support Professionals who help every day with daily living skills, cooking, driving...need a fair and decent wage. They are the foundation of the support we provide and are invaluable.

What is the most memorable moment you've had since starting your organization?
Hearing our son refer to his five housemates as his friends. Friends have been difficult to come by so it means the world that he has friends

What else would you like people to know about your charity?
Life'sWORC has been in operation for over 50 years, we serve over 2,000 persons with disabilities, we have 45 group homes from Queens to Suffolk County and have just launched WORC FORCE; a place to go for a purpose fulled day. www.worcforce.org

What are your organization's social media pages or handles?
Facebook: @lifesworc, @worcforce
Instagram: @lifesworc, @worcforce
You tube: @lifesworc, @worcforcecenter

Do you help run a charity?

Nominate it here or share this link with someone who does.