August 19, 2021 | Press Release.pdf

In a move that continues Community Options Enterprises’ growth, the organization proudly announces its plan to open the latest Vaseful Flowers & Gifts in Forked River, NJ.

Community Options is a national nonprofit that supports 5,000 people with disabilities through innovative housing and employment programs in 10 states. Community Options currently operates eight entrepreneurial businesses in New Jersey to provide integrated employment for people with disabilities.

“Many people with disabilities want to work. At Vaseful, individuals are afforded the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a work setting while earning a competitive wage,” said Dina Casalaspro, Managing Director for Community Options. “We have seen great success with our Vaseful stores and our employees love coming to work every day to make flower arrangements, process online orders, and work the cash register, among other tasks. It is truly incredible to see them learning skillsets and gaining confidence in themselves through their work experience.”

Vaseful is a unique floral business that provides employment opportunities to people with disabilities in an integrated setting.  Like any business, Vaseful matches employees with the right job based on their abilities and needs. This dynamic helps people with disabilities gain valuable work experience while also building skillsets that they can carry on with them in employment opportunities.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, David McDougald started working at the Princeton Vaseful once a week. He quickly discovered that he loved to dust and organize the store and took great pride in doing so. Unfortunately, David could no longer continue the work he enjoyed in person due to the pandemic.

Since the lifting of COVID restrictions placed on businesses, David’s supervisor, Kathy Angelinovich, has been happy to have him back in the store working hard.

“David told me he was going to start coming in every day to reorganize the store and make up for all of the time he lost. He would come in every day if I let him,” said Angelinovich.

Once David returned to work, he has taken on new responsibilities and is learning about safety.  He helps check the fire extinguishers and the lights on the exit signs and is now working three shifts a week.

Community Options will be transforming their current Forked River office into the third Vaseful location, joining their two other storefronts in Princeton and Edison.

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About Community Options, Inc.:

For over 30 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment supports for people with disabilities – serving thousands of people from over 40 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people – regardless of ability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination. For more information, please visit our website: www.comop.org and to follow along with the #AllItTakes campaign, search #AllItTakes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.