Nonprofit helps people of all abilities find jobs

ARCADIA, Wis. (WEAU) – ORC Industries is a nonprofit that has been working for years to employ individuals with disabilities, whose unemployment rate is twice that of the average rate.

“This place provides a great opportunity for them to come to work. They earn a paycheck, make friends, create relationships, and we also offer health and wellness benefits,” says ORC Director of Sales and Marketing Andrew Vittone.

One of the jobs done by employees is packing hardware packs for Ashley Furniture. Chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries Ron Wanek says the nonprofit is important because it helps those with disabilities get a start in the workforce.

“They teach them how to work. They teach them discipline. They do a wonderful job that they probably wouldn’t get in outside employment. They serve a great purpose in getting people to be productive and lead good lives,” says Wanek.

Congressman Derrick Van Orden made a stop at ORC Industry Tuesday. Van Orden says he is visiting the nonprofit to highlight facilities that give a sense of purpose to people with disabilities in the community.

“We need to understand that the intrinsic value of the human is the intrinsic value of the human, and to give somebody dignity through labor is priceless. These facilities are a must and they’re a must because one, they help the manufacturing base. But two, from my perspective, more importantly, they get a tremendous amount of people a lot of dignity and hope,” says Rep. Van Orden.

Van Orden believes facilities like this are important because they giving hope and dignity to those with disabilities.

“They’re contributing. They’re not just coming here and sitting around doing nothing all day. They’re actually contributing to different manufacturing processes. These folks show up here and they work very hard all day. Then they go back home and they look forward to coming here,” says Rep. Van Orden.

ORC officials say since 2016, employees have completed over 3 million hardware packs for Ashley Furniture.

WEAU reached out to Rebecca Cooke’s office for a comment on Van Orden’s visit to ORC, but have not heard back yet.

Cooke and Van Orden will be facing off in the November election for Wisconsin’s 3rd congressional district.

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