Gordon....
Mele wanted one thing for her son Gordon-- the same thing she wanted for all her children. “I wanted his world to be as broad as it could be,” she said. “I didn’t want for him to grow up isolated, with the four walls and the television making up his world view.”
So when Gordon was 12 years old, his mom started searching for activities, opportunities and support. Her search led to the St. Louis Arc, where Gordon became involved in many of the agency’s youth programs. As Gordon grew, the St. Louis Arc’s services grew with him. Gordon volunteered, with Arc support, during the summers. When he finished school, Arc’s Employment Services helped him to develop the necessary skills to obtain and hold a competitive job at Lowe’s.
“I’m a loader,” Gordon explains. “I load things into people’s cars. Yesterday, I helped load a refrigerator.” Gordon has received accolades from Lowe’s recognizing his outstanding work and he takes personal pride in a job well done.
“The Arc can take pride in Gordon too,” says Mele. “They helped him break into the world.”
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