36 NOVEMBER 2017 ArcAd A News By Mallory Gleich If you’ve shopped at the Safeway grocery store on 48th Street and Indian School, chances are you’ve run into Kenny McGeorge. Kenny is one of several people with disabilities who works in the Safeway community and has become a bright spot during people’s shopping trips. Kenny attended Coronado High School, which has a life skills program suitable for people with autism. After graduation, Kenny attended classes at Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), which helped him obtain his job at Safeway. Kenny and his family, with the help of SARRC, approached Safeway and asked if Kenny could have a job. That was two years ago, and they’ve never been happier. “Kenny loves working for Safeway. He loves when his friends and family visit and he loves being able to have something to do,” said Barb McGeorge, Kenny’s mom. Since he started at Safeway, Barb has seen Kenny grow in many ways. His overall communication skills have improved and he’s more conversational. Cindy Decker is the manager who hired Kenny more than two years ago. She says when he first started, it was tough to get him to talk, but that is no longer the case. “Kenny may be limited in his speech, but he speaks volumes with his persona and his happy, loving smile,” Decker said. Kenny’s responsibilities at Safeway include bagging groceries and moving bags of ice to containers. “Moving the ice is one of his favorite things to do. We say ‘Kenny, time to get the ice’ and he just knows that it’s his job and he’s ready to do it,” Decker said. Safeway has employed people with disabilities for more than 20 years, and in 2007 was recognized by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation for its record of employing people with disabilities. Decker says Safeway supports different organizations and hires on different levels depending on the disability. Kenny was hired with the help of a life coach and over the years has become part of Safeway’s family. There are even customers that go out of their way to specifically come to Kenny’s store. “I have a store that is closer to my house, but I’d rather go and see Kenny when I go shopping,” says Sally Fleming, who has lived in the Arcadia area her entire life. Fleming says she makes sure to shop on the days that Kenny works, and he always greets her with a smile and a big hug. “He’s always just fun to see. He works hard and he’s always happy,” Fleming said. McGeorge family friend Jan Sica also goes to the Arcadia Safeway just to see Kenny. “Kenny is a bright spot in the community. He always gives off good vibes, and his line is always the longest. He always greets me with a big hug and you can tell that he loves his job,” Sica said. Decker, Kenny’s manager, says he makes people feel good about themselves when they come to see him at work. “It’s so great that he’s overcome his disability to be in society. He makes a difference in people’s lives,” Decker said. When Kenny isn’t working hard, his favorite things to do are visit with family and friends and play games on his computer and his phone. He also loves to grocery shop. “He’s become a loving part of our community. He’s just ‘our Kenny,’” Decker said. Kenny McGeorge brings joy to Safeway community Kenny McGeorge, who has autism, has worked at the Safeway on 48th Street and Indian School for two years and has become a part of the Safeway family. WELCOME TO BAKER PARK, An intimate, gated enclave of just 44 semi-custom, luxury homes priced from the mid $800s and smack dab in the center of EVERYTHING All-new gated neighborhood in Arcadia Built on the former site of Baker Nursery 44 homesites gathered around a public park and pool 2,172-4,847 square-foot floorplans In an effort to continuously improve, Seller reserves the right to change product design, floor plans, elevations, features, materials, specifications, locations and size without notice. All references to dimensions and square footage are approximate and may vary in actual construction. Floor plan & elevation renderings are conceptual drawings; they are not intended to show specific detailing and may vary from actual plan. Prices, terms, incentives and availability are subject to change without notice. Buyer to rely on his or her own evaluation of usable area. Walt Danley Development Services is a division of Walt Danley Realty. WALT DANLEY D E V EL O P ME N T S ER V I C E S Here Comes the Neighborhood! The Arcadia Elm Gourmet Kitchens Luxurious Lots Welcoming Public Spaces 202 24th Street SCOTTSDALE › ‹ CEN-PHO PARADISE VALLEY 40th Street The Villas at Baker Park is located at 40th Street and Osborn Road Phase 1 Sold Out! NOW SELLING PHASE 2 /thevillasatbakerpark

37 NOVEMBER 2017 Arc A d A News Local schools continue to help with hurricane relief (Left) The Key Club at Arcadia High School helped raise over $900 for hurricane relief. (Right) The Hopi Elemetary Sunbeam Team raised over $2,500 for hurricane relief. By Kaylee Sumpter Hurricane Harvey brought pain and disaster to those in Houston. Returning residents now face the seemingly insurmountable task of rebuilding their homes and lives. Fortunately, when disasters strike, people across the country come together to help. Members of the Hopi Elementary Sunbeam Team decided they wanted to do what they can to help the victims as they begin their recovery. On October 21, the Sunbeam Team helped put on a car wash to raise money to send directly to affected Houston families. Over $2500 were raised from car washes, bake sales and drink stations at the event, with students from multiple local schools participating. The event gave 100 percent of its proceeds to seven families affected by Hurricane Harvey. Hopi’s Sunbeam Team comprises a group of teachers who volunteer uncredited time to keep the school’s morale high and positive. Hopi Elementary teachers Livia Rice, Whitney Keeler, Justin Blacksher, Laura Mitchell, Meghan Pugh, Laura Yarkowski, Amy Parker, and Molly Point- Brown make up the team. “After Houston was hit, very quickly we started realizing that our staff has many personal friends there and we decided we had to help. We felt we could do so much good giving directly to these families, many of whom are teachers,” said Keeler, who teaches third grade at Hopi. “So much of a teacher’s classroom is built with their own money, and we understand that.” Keeler, who teaches third grade, has spent hours promoting the car wash that will give 100 percent of its proceeds to seven families affected by Hurricane Harvey. At Arcadia High School, the Key Club recently completed a school-wide coin drive to support victims of the Hurricane. Entitled “Help for Harvey” the two-week drive helped raise over $900 for the Kiwanis Texas Children’s Fund for Hurricane Relief. The Key Club of Arcadia was recently reactivated at Arcadia this year, led by President Kyle Spier. The club’s mission is service oriented within the school, local community and beyond. “This campaign really shows that the students of Arcadia care about other communities and want to help in any way possible,” said Co-Vice President Abe Speck, who chaired the Help for Harvey drive. “We asked them to dig deep in their pickets, backpacks, purses, and they did. We all came together to help.” CALL TODAY OR STOP BY OUR SHOWROOM FOR DETAILS! 4454 East Thomas Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018 602.508.0800 | liwindow.com $500