Putnam County Welcomes Mentoring Day Participants

From CAREERS for People with Disabilities, Inc.:

CARMEL, NY - Putnam County residents were given the opportunity to work at a job that interests them as CAREERS for People with Disabilities, Inc. (CAREERS) coordinated the fifth Annual Mentoring Day on October 25th. A collaboration with Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell, the event pairs mentors from County Departments with individuals interested in learning what it takes to be successfully employed.

“Putnam’s fifth Mentoring Day is a great time for County staff to share their employment skills and interests with individuals who don’t always get the chance to prove themselves,” remarked CAREERS Executive Director Tina Cornish-Lauria. “County Executive Odell and her staff always make our participants feel welcome and needed, and everyone leaves the event with new understanding and a new friend,” Cornish-Lauria said.

"People with disabilities represent a largely untapped well of talent that are loyal, dedicated and hard-working, but oftentimes get overlooked by employers," said Odell. "After participating in this program for a fifth year, I can personally attest to its success in educating the public so they recognize the contributions of people with disabilities, rather than limitations, and welcome them in the workplace."

CAREERS, Carmel High School students, and PARC participants were matched with volunteer County mentors, based on the interests of each mentee. County departments participating included The County Clerk’s Office, Department of Social Services, Office for Senior Resources and Veterans Services, among others. Participants worked side by side with mentors for several hours learning administrative skills, customer service, landscaping, delivering mail and food service, among other activities.

Image via CAREERS for People with Disabilities, Inc.