Linwood Center Boutique was the recipient of $700+ raised by Banding Together. Alexander Baloga, Dan Callahan, Haley Crane, Ali Rodriguez, Michael Smith, Julia Thometz, and Chloe Zulick are Banding Together. This group of highly-motivated Howard County resident high school students participated in the 2014-2015 class of Leadership U. Leadership U is a program of Leadership Howard County, under the direction of Diane Freedman, Director of Youth Programs.
Scott Templin, Community Planner with the Columbia Association, mentored Banding Together on the group’s self-selected project of raising awareness and funds for individuals with development disabilities. Banding Together sold silicone wristbands branded with the words “Banding Together” on them. The wristbands promote awareness for all developmental disabilities; they cost about $1 and were sold for $2 per wristband. Each student on the Banding Together team sold wristbands at their school and in front of the Miller Branch Library before their Leadership U meetings. Additionally, the Banding Together group worked in the Linwood Boutique along with the adult program participants, sorting merchandise, making sales displays, and cleaning the retail space. A check was presented to the staff at Linwood Center Boutique in December.
Linwood Center Boutique provides productive, integrated employment and training opportunities for adults in the Linwood Center adult program while offering the community a retail setting for gently used merchandise in excellent condition. Timmy N. works in Linwood’s supported employment program at Linwood Boutique. Timmy, with great pride, said “Teamwork is important to get my job done at the Boutique. My friends work together to organize donations and to keep the store neat.” The funds were used to enhance the appearance of the sales floor and merchandise staging presentations. The adult program participants employed at Linwood Center Boutique enjoyed a spring Employee Appreciation luncheon, thanks to the Banding Together group’s fundraising efforts.
