Volunteers from Thomas & Hutton (T&H), a Southeast-based professional consulting, engineering, surveying, and landscape architecture firm, recently partnered with EmployAbility for its greenhouse build on Saturday, March 14^th as part of Thomas & Hutton’s internal service program called T&H Helping Hands.

A grant from the International Paper Foundation provided the funds for the greenhouse to be used in EmployAbility’s Culinary and Horticultural programs. EmployAbility is a 501(c)(3) organization that prepares adults with developmental disabilities for employment and community integration.

Laura Lane McKinnon, Director for Organizational Advancement at Employability, states, “T&H employees have a reputation of volunteering in the communities where they work. Once we received the materials for the greenhouse, I knew we needed someone with technical expertise, but I was also keenly aware that we needed a team with heart willing to give up their time to help.” 

Brad Rife, T&H Graphics Manager, was one of the volunteers for the build at EmployAbility and says,” The Employability staff was there both Saturdays to lend a hand.  From making sure we had enough coffee, to running to Home Depot, to installing panels on the greenhouse, the Employability staff was right there with us.”

T&H Program Manager, John Giordano, spent time with the EmployAbility staff prior to the build to coordinate onsite details. This helped the team to efficiently complete the project.