At WORK, Inc., everything is about the people we serve. Here are some of their stories:
  
Gloria

These days, Gloria proudly shows off the uniform she wears as a full-time dining hall attendant at Hanscom, Air Force Base in Bedford.  While earning money and gaining new skills, she has made many friends with whom she proudly shares photos of her young niece she dotes on.
    
A year ago Gloria, 23, was less sure of herself.  Upon graduating from Hyde Park High School, she was referred to WORK, Inc. for vocational training.  When she first arrived, she was shy and hesitated engaging others in conversation.  As the weeks passed, she mastered increasingly complex tasks and slowly began to accept compliments with an embarrassed smile.  Her self-esteem grew and she began to interact with people around her.  Today, the quality of her work and her approach to her job are an example to her co-workers and WORK, Inc. staff.
    
In addition to her increased confidence and pride, Gloria gained something else - choices.  She's proud of having a full-time job and of her work at the Air Force Base, but contemplates her next move.  An avid shopper and music fan, she's considering taking what she's learned through WORK, Inc. into a retail career with a clothing or record store.

Lynne

Lynne is thinking about her next career move as she looks for competitive employment.  She liked her last job at Au Bon Pain in the South Shore Mall, and is hoping to find a similar position.  There she gave out food samples to mall patrons, a job that fostered meeting new people each day.

She lives in a new wheelchair-accessible residence in Qunicy sponsored by WORK, Inc. with three friends.  Lynne is a computer buff, who likes to cook.  She enjoys frequent outings to nearby beaches and local eateries.

Friendly and outgoing, Lynne spends much of her free time volunteering in the community.  The staff at the South Shore Hospital have learned to count on her helpful nature, reliability, and willingness to pitch in.

Lou

Lou hasn't stopped moving since coming to WORK, Inc. in 1987.  Now living in a new residence in West Roxbury, he has a number of relatives nearby and spends time with them whenever possible.

No stranger to adventure, Lou rarely shies away from new activities.  He plays BINGO once a week in a neighboring town where he gathers with old friends and always makes new ones, and is a member of a singing group that performs concerts for the elderly.  He loves attending concerts, cultural festivals, and craft shows and also enjoyed a recent Native American Pow Wow.  He spent his vacation this year in Florida where he visited Disney World, Kennedy Space Center and MGM Studios.  From there, he boarded a cruise ship to the Bahamas where he spent 2 days.

Since coming to WORK, Inc., Lou has assumed an increased amount of responsibility in his life, and is learning new ways to organize his time.  He plays a key role in the running of the house he shares with three friends, goes food shopping, prepares dinner once a week, and pitches in with day to day housecleaning.  Bolstered by a growing ability to advocate for himself, Lou is gaining control over more and more aspects of his life.