“The job we do is just clean the bathrooms, make sure the toilet tissue is filled up. Make sure the soap dispenser is filled up,” said Rakeen. He is one of the men on the team of workers from Opportunity Services, an organization that helps disabled adults find employment.
He got connected with Opportunity Services after he talked to his social worker.
“I wanted to work,” said Rakeen.
And from there, a connection was made, and now he’s part of a team keeping Blaine’s parks and little cleaner and a littler nicer.
“I take a group of four guys out and we come out here and clean the parks in Blaine,” said Rakeen’s job coach Melissa Hodge.
Melissa is on hand to help the team get the job done. She can jump in to answer questions or teach someone how to do a new task.
“I love the different personalities, and being able to help other people. And it’s fun,”
They clearly take pride in their work, as evidenced by their the speed and their desire to do the job well. Through the morning, they clean three different parks in Blaine.
And being outside, on a nice summer day seems to be something the entire team enjoys.
“This is cool, working in the community. I like it,” said Rakeen.
The Opportunity Services team will spend the rest of the summer working the city parks, before heading back to the University of Minnesota for the school year.
