Vocational Service Award 2016 Recipient

The 2016 Vocational Service Award was presented to Kevin Harty, Director of the White River Craft Center (WRCC) by Clara Martin Center’s Vocational Services Coordinator, Holly Benoir. This establishment offers crafting workshops, meeting spaces, and provides a display and sales venue for area artisans. Beyond those functions, Harty, has welcomed volunteer groups from Clara Martin Center’s Pre-Employment Transition Services program and has provided work experiences for clients in recent years.

Benoir said “Harty and the Craft Center offer a nurturing, safe environment for numerous individuals who might otherwise ‘slip through the cracks’, even providing housing for some in exchange for services such as building maintenance.” Susan Rockwell, a weaving instructor, accepted the award on behalf of the WRCC adding that the partnership between the two organizations works because “working with your hands soothes the mind.”