We love celebrating and
rewarding non-profit organizations making a difference in our community with
donations gathered from employees at Larry H.
Miller Volkswagen. When we met the remarkable group of people from Work
Options for Women, we were thrilled to offer them $3,500 for changing the lives
of our neighbors who are in need of professional guidance and a plan for
self-sufficiency.
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Photo courtesy of
www.workoptions.org.
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The classes offered at Work Options for Women (WOW) teach students:
·
how
to cook from scratch with wholesome ingredients
·
communication
in a professional setting
·
job
skills and training (professional appearance, showing up on time, adjusting
schedules to meet the needs of their (future) job(s), being respectful and
respected)
·
resume
and job application assistance
·
interview
skills and practice
·
job
placement assistance
·
hands-on
experience as professionals in the food service industry
·
balancing
a personal budget
The women attending this
program have varied backgrounds with their paths intersecting at poverty,
homelessness, finding trouble with the law, missing an education and lacking
the skills to interview for a job (and keeping a job), but all of them share
the need to improve their lives for themselves and their families. For many,
this is the last resort for help, and the first step they’ve taken to
completely changing the course of their lives.
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Students from Work
Options for Women accept a donation from the employees of Larry H. Miller
Volkswagen Lakewood. Front row (left to right) are Rita, Meganl, Erin Williams
(LHMVW), Allison Humphrey (LHMVW), and Valerie. Second row (left to right) are
Esmiralda, Michelle, Shaelyn and Sheila. Back row (left to right) are Tammaria,
Tessa, Jeffrey Fish (LHMVW) and Alex (WOW instructor). Photo courtesy of Allison Humphrey.
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It’s no secret the staff
love their students and their jobs by their constant praise and enthusiasm when
discussing the strides they make. Obviously, witnessing each amazing
transformation is exceptionally rewarding, especially when some of the students
have multiple hurdles to jump through just to participate in this program.
Operating WOW is not cheap and the students attending this program attend it for free, so the generosity of private donors, area businesses, and revenues from WOW Café and Café Options keep the program running. About forty-four percent of the revenues from Café Options and the WOW Café fund the programs for WOW. Other avenues of support include cooking classes at Café Options, fundraisers and dining events, team building courses, and donations from area residents and businesses.
WOW Café is the onsite cafeteria located in the heart of the Denver Human Services building, also the headquarters of Work Options for Women’s classrooms and kitchen. The WOW Café is the first step for the students in their culinary education. It’s where they learn to prepare meals from scratch, practice their customer service skills, and experience the art of team work as they serve breakfast and lunch at the various food stations. The students prepare fresh food selections and also take food orders for any of the 800 employees in this building.
Café Options is a fast casual restaurant in the heart of downtown Denver operating as a branch of Work Options for Women, which also employs many students who have completed the culinary program through WOW. This café serves breakfast and lunch to the bustling crowds of professionals and tourists Monday through Friday.
Once the students complete their culinary education (averaging 9 weeks to complete, especially if they participate in an internship), they may join in a graduation ceremony. For many, this is the first time they’ve graduated from anything, and for some it’s the first graduation (of any kind) for a member of their family. It’s an emotional day, marking the end of a former life of struggles and doubt and a celebration of hope for a better life and future.
WOW alumni have a
tremendous support system from the WOW staff. No one is ever turned away when
they need help with job placement, updating their resume, additional training,
or counseling. Some have been invited back to the WOW “campus” to help train
the new batch of students, offering a much-needed example of the success from
the program and what lies ahead.
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A few of the dedicated
Work Options for Women staff accept a donation from Larry H. Miller Volkswagen
Lakewood. From left to right: Kassi Newman, Katie Billotte, and Julie Stone.
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Making a donation to Work
Options for Women will not only help a woman to become self-sufficient, it will
change the dynamic of the community. You
can offer support through a monetary donation or provide supplies students need
for classes. Check out Work
Options for Women’s Support page for more information.
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