STUDENTS WITH AUTISM HELP OUT AT FOODBANK

Chesterfield, MO (February 07, 2007) — “Young people with disabilities enjoy the opportunity to help others,” Giant Steps Director, Betty Berger, observes.  Ms. Berger is standing in the packing area at the Earth City facility of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. All around her young people with autism are working efficiently packing canned and packaged food into cartons for clients of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. "Today they packed 440 cartons of food and they are still eager to work!"

Ms. Berger greatly appreciates the Foodbank welcoming the Giant Steps Students as volunteers.  People with autism often are characterized as aloof, disinterested or withdrawn. However, when given the opportunity, Ms. Berger states: “These children are happiest when they are busy and engaged.  At Giant Steps we provide academic education along with teaching life skills that will prepare our students for a vocation. The St. Louis Area Foodbank is furthering that effort by giving them a place in the community to be of service to others.”

“The kids from Giant Steps spend their time at the Foodbank preparing food boxes for a program that helps feed more than 4,000 low-income seniors each month,” said Frank Finnegan, executive director for the St. Louis Area Foodbank.  “The children do an outstanding job and hopefully, this partnership benefits them as much as it’s helping others,” concluded Finnegan.

Giant Steps students will be volunteering at St. Louis Area Foodbank again on March 8 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

Giant Steps
Established in 1994, Giant Steps St. Louis is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that provides therapy and education for children with autism.  The program addresses the core deficits of autism and helps children build cognitive, social, and daily living skills. Students participate in Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy,  Academic Therapy and in Instruction in Play/Social Communication, Physical Education, Art and Computer.

St. Louis Area Foodbank
The St. Louis Area Foodbank is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 food distribution center for organizations that feed hungry people in 14 counties in eastern Missouri and 12 counties in southwestern Illinois.

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