Last week, one of EmployAbility’s Community Access Group (CAG) 8-passenger vans was cruelly stolen in the middle of the night and then abandoned with extensive ignition, lock, and body damage to the point that the insurance company declared it totaled. As a result of this theft, one team of CAG participants can no longer take part in their community volunteer activities. Not only that, but now more than a dozen program participants have no transportation to and from the EmployAbility campus, as each van makes multiple runs throughout the day to take participants to and from the EmployAbility campus and their homes. EmployAbility’s CAG program provides vital, daily volunteer and enrichment opportunities to the program participants, helping them cultivate their skills for daily, independent living.

The van stolen served as a lifeline to these participants – keeping them from isolation and giving them the ability to serve and participate in their – and our – community. The loss of the van is especially sad because not only do local non-profits count on EmployAbility’s CAG team, but the CAG participants are extremely disappointed each day when they cannot go out and fulfill their daily volunteering commitments – they enjoy contributing, and they are proud of the difference they make in the community. In a given year CAG provides 1,045 volunteer hours to 10 community sites and delivers 1331 meals in partnership with Meals on Wheels.