Michigan Charity Named ‘Community Employer of the Year’

A Michigan nonprofit that serves veterans, seniors, and families in need has been named 'Community Employee of the Year.'

Peckham, Inc. has named Volunteers of America Michigan as its honoree, with a focus on the VOA Thrift Store in Lansing and store manager Angie Brown.

A Focus on Hiring Persons With Disabilities

According to Peckham, the Volunteers of America Thrift Store in South Lansing has employed five people who have disabilities or other barriers to employment.

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Since October of last year, five candidates have been hired through programs partnered with the Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

As store leader, Brown has helped match these candidates with appropriate job roles and peer mentorship in order to help them integrate successfully in the store and gain hands-on work experience.

About Peckham, Inc.

Peckham, Inc. is a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization that provides paid job training opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

They often partner with other nonprofits, looking to match eligible candidates with employers through various job placement programs.

Shayla Packer is an employment specialist with Peckham. She says partnerships like this are vital to people facing employment challenges.

"This partnership exemplifies how inclusive hiring, strategic workforce planning, and skill development can create sustainable employment solutions that benefit businesses and job seekers alike," she said.

Lansing Store Manager in the Spotlight

Packer went on to praise Angie Brown, the store manager for Volunteers of America's South Lansing Thrift Store, for helping employees develop a sense of belonging as they embrace their new roles at the store.

Volunteers of America Michigan is a nonprofit that serves veterans, seniors, and families in need throughout Michigan. It's one of the nation's largest developers of affordable housing, providing shelter for nearly 20,000 people in the last year.

Volunteers of America Thrift Stores are located in Burton, Corunna, Lansing, Saginaw, and Westland.