Amazon Donations Support NJ’s Autism Community
November 05, 2018
Autism New Jersey is the fortunate recipient of sizable product donations from our neighbor, Amazon Fulfillment Center EWR4 in Robbinsville, NJ. The partnership has been a tremendous success in providing donations to those in need. Since 2016, the Fulfillment Center has supplied Autism New Jersey with electronics and personal care items, as well as toys, home, office, and school supplies.
The items – worth well over $180,000 to date – have been distributed to autism programs, organizations, and group homes throughout the state. We’ve also been able to put many of the items to good use in our office to support our awareness events and activities.
“It has been incredibly rewarding for Autism New Jersey to be involved in the distribution of merchandise to help support our mission,” noted Ellen Schisler, Associate Executive Director, “We’re grateful to Amazon for their support of the autism community and for the opportunity to connect individuals and organizations to products they need.”
Helping Individuals with Autism Develop Job Skills
Most recently, the partnership is also helping individuals with autism develop practical job skills. Bancroft, a leading nonprofit provider of specialized autism services and longtime Autism New Jersey Organization Member, expressed interest in assisting with the growing task of handling the large amount of donations. Individuals enrolled in Bancroft at Burlington, a new day and vocational training program for Burlington County adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are successfully offering assistance to sort, track, and process orders for other donation partners. This pre-employment training will help develop problem-solving skills while helping individuals learn how to follow directions and work as a team.
“Amazon is committed to being a good neighbor, and we are constantly looking for ways to give back to the community. Our relationship with Autism New Jersey has had direct impacts on the lives of hundreds of individuals with Autism,” Amazon representatives said. “Through our donations and Autism New Jersey’s partnership with Bancroft, we’re making impacts in other ways by creating opportunities to develop practical job skills. We are incredibly delighted to work with these wonderful organizations in the communities where our associates live and work.”
Ms. Schisler added, “As valuable as the donations are to all who receive them, the training opportunity is an additional gift from Amazon that is making a lasting difference.”
View our slideshow to see some of those who have benefited from the Amazon donations.
