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USDA to Honor Three Melwood Employees Friday, October 30, 2009

USDA Honors the Work of Three Melwood Employees

Ceremony is Part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

         
Henderson                  Featherson                 Sherrill

UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND (October 30, 2009) – The US Department of Agriculture will honor three Melwood employees with disabilities for their outstanding work at a November 4 ceremony at USDA headquarters.  The event is part of National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which was designated by Congress in 1988 to educate the public about disability and employment issues.

The three will be honored for their dedication in completing the first phase of the People's Garden at USDA headquarters in time for the April 22, 2009 Earth Day celebration.  The People's Garden is an initiative to transform grounds around USDA headquarters and other sites into functional, organic vegetable gardens that demonstrate sustainable agriculture techniques.

"These employees exemplify the work ethic and skills Melwood is known for, it is wonderful to have them recognized," said Janice Frey-Angel, Melwood President/CEO.

Michael Henderson, of Clinton, Maryland, has been employed as a grounds worker for Melwood for more than two years at USDA headquarters, the Kennedy Center and at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, DC.

James Featherson, of Bowie, Maryland, has worked in landscaping for Melwood for more than five years at USDA headquarters and the Kennedy Center.

Charles Sherrill, of Forestville, Maryland, has worked for two years as a grounds worker at the USDA George Washington Carver Center and at Melwood's headquarters in Prince George's County.

"Eight AbilityOne grounds workers from Melwood contributed to the People's Garden, and Michael, James and Charles went the extra mile to help complete the project by working on the Saturday before Earth Day," said Mark Rogers, Melwood landscape manager.

Melwood employs more than 530 people with disabilities in custodial, landscaping, recycling and complete facilities management capacities through the AbilityOne Program.  These employees, otherwise eligible to receive government benefits, earned $13.5 million in wages and benefits and paid $2.7 million in taxes in 2008.

The AbilityOne Program is a federal initiative to help people who are blind or who have severe disabilities find employment by working for nonprofit agencies that sell products and or services to the U.S. government.  Melwood employees work at 72 federal sites including the Department of Agriculture, Naval Academy, Patuxent River NAS, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Energy and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

What:
USDA Ceremony to honor three Melwood workers with disabilities as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

When/Where:
Nov. 4, 1-2 p.m. in the atrium of USDA Headquarters, 1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20250

About Melwood:
Melwood Horticultural Training Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving more than 1,600 people with disabilities with employment, community supports and recreation in the Washington D.C. area. Melwood employees support 42 contracts made possible by the AbilityOne Program, which encourages federal agencies to contract with approved, qualified organizations that provide job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This federal effort is emphasized by the fact that 62 percent of Americans with severe disabilities are unemployed. For additional information about Melwood capabilities and services for people with disabilities, call Melwood at (301) 599-8000, or visit www.melwood.org.

Contact:
Jay Thomas, Melwood
jthomas@melwood.org
(301) 599-4550

Related URLs http://www.dol.gov/odep/

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