Submitted
Dennis moves swiftly from table to table as he folds napkins and places silverware and plates in preparation for a Janus Community Luncheon, a complimentary monthly luncheon open to the public.
Preparation for the Janus luncheons begins the week before as the team plans and prepares recipes. The day of the luncheon, the team arrives at Janus early in the morning ready to do their part to make the event a success. Tables are set up, flowers are arranged and most importantly, the food is prepared, plated and served to the community guests.
Capabilities Café Team Leader Chris Hawkins describes Dennis as a “good leader, a hard worker and an exceptional person.” Kelsey, a co-worker, says Dennis has a “good heart” and “tries to help everyone just like a big brother would.”
Dennis shared his own thoughts as he continued to set the tables: “I enjoy working at the luncheons. It’s a blessing to serve others and being a part of giving back to the community.”
In addition to working at Community Luncheons, Dennis has been a participant in the Work Experience program for over five years developing job skills in a structured, supervised setting. Dennis focuses on his work and always completes his job assignments, often taking on extra responsibilities like loading the vending machines. He often jokes “I like making the money” with a huge smile on his face. It is obvious that he takes great pride in earning a paycheck for the work he does.
Dennis was recognized as Janus Client of the Year in 2017 and continues to work towards exploring new opportunities for personal growth and towards his goal of one day being employed in the community.
Community Lunches are held at Janus from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. To attend a Community Luncheon, which includes a tour of Janus and an overview of programs and services, please contact Patty Steffen at psteffen@janus-inc.org.