HC Opportunity Center

01/14/2026

⭐️Meet Kate and Joan! ⭐️

Every week, these two lovely ladies brighten up the afternoon at Handi-Crafters by assisting our Program Specialist Kathy Miller at dismissal time! By helping call buses and rides, they ensure each program participant leaves on time each day!

We are so proud of them for taking on this extra responsibility here at Handi-Crafters!

Keep up the excellent work, ladies! 🩵🩷

01/13/2026

⭐️Volunteer Opportunity Available! ⭐

Come join our team at Handi-Crafters and help make a lasting first impression on all our visitors!

Handi-Crafters is looking for friendly and reliable individuals to serve as Main Lobby Greeters in the Spatola Building!

Lobby Greeters will serve as the first point of contact for all visitors and vendors coming into Handi-Crafters and warmly welcome them into our organization! Greeters will help support daily operations by overseeing the sign-in/out process for all guests, monitoring the visitor log to ensure accuracy and compliance, paging appropriate contacts, providing building directions, and assisting with any other tasks as directed by staff.

This opportunity is available Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-3:30 PM and will be available in two different shifts.

Shift #1 is scheduled from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM and Shift #2 is scheduled from 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM. Volunteers may choose one or both shifts per day depending on availability and may volunteer one or multiple days per week.

Please note that all volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, successfully pass a background check, and must be willing to learn our paging and phone system.

If you or someone you know is interested in this exciting opportunity, please click the link below to learn more and apply! 🩵

Position Summary: The Main Lobby Greeter is the first point of contact for all visitors, guests, and vendors. This role creates a welcoming atmosphere by greeting individuals as they arrive, assisting

01/12/2026

It's hard not to smile when you work at Handi-Crafters! 😄

Wishing everyone a wonderful week! 🩵

01/09/2026

Everybody is workin' for the weekend...💚

From all of us here at Handi-Crafters, Happy Friday & GO BIRDS! 🦅

01/08/2026

Our workshop program here at Handi-Crafters Opportunity Center provides individuals with the opportunity to discover their professional goals and passions, build confidence, and work collaboratively alongside their peers.

Our twelve workshops are fast-paced and engaging environments—where deadlines are always met, projects are completed with precision and pride, and the safety and well-being of each individual is always the top priority.

Our workshops, filled with innovation and purpose, are more than just a workplace—they are a haven that helps individuals reach their greatest potential. 🩷💙📦

01/07/2026

⭐️A Day Out with Herr’s⭐️

Today, our Community Participation Team went on a special visit to the Herr's Snack Factory in Nottingham, PA!

Joe, Peter, Joe, and CPS leader Denielle took an educational behind the scenes tour of Herr’s and saw Pennsylvania’s favorite snacks come to life!

Our team brought curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the entire morning—asking questions and learning all about the production of each snack. At the very end of the tour, our crew even got to taste chips fresh off the line!😋

This experience was particularly special for Joe, Peter, and Joe, as they package Herr’s snacks in their workshops! The opportunity to experience the impact of the Herr’s Snack Factory further inspired them in the work they do here at Handi-Crafters! 😊

We would like to give a very special thank you to Valerie, our phenomenal tour guide, for making this experience so memorable for our team!!! 💙🩷

Handi-Crafters Opportunity Center has been proud to partner with Herr’s for 11 years. Over the span of those years, we have processed over 2 MILLION chip bags for the business! 🤩

Thank you Herr’s for your longstanding partnership and commitment to our mission! 🥔💛

01/06/2026

⭐️Competitive Employment Spotlight ⭐️

Today, we are proud to highlight Handi-Crafters program participant Kathryn for her incredible work at Kohl's! 🤩

Kathryn turned her dream of working at Kohl's into a meaningful employment opportunity in the community! Kathryn brings exceptional customer service to her role with her warm and joyful personality, and her careful attention to detail always keeps the store looking neat and organized!

Our Handi-Crafters Employment Specialist Alyssa Watterson has been working with Kathryn for over a year now as her job coach and is so proud of everything she has accomplished!

"Kathryn loves her job and Kohl's enjoys having her on the team," says Watterson. "I am very proud of her."

Way to go, Kathryn!!! 💙🩷

01/05/2026

❄️EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT ❄

Join us for our Winter Bingo Fundraiser on February 20, 2026 from 6-8 pm in the Bentley Building at Handi-Crafters! Don't miss a night full of games, raffles, food, and fun with our Handi-Crafters community! 💙🎟️

All the proceeds from this event will go directly back to supporting our incredible individuals and programs as we get ready for an unforgettable year!

Tickets are $25 a person and can be purchased here: https://hcocenter.org/support/donate-now/
*Please make your donation out to "Winter Bingo 2026" in the "Honored Name/Event" space.

We look forward to seeing you there!!! 🤩

*Please note, you must be 18 years or older to play*

01/03/2026

Our December newsletter is live! ☃️

We had an exciting month here at Handi-Crafters and can’t wait for an exciting year ahead! 🤩

Click below to read all about it—plus two exciting event announcements you don’t want to miss! 👀

Email from HCOC December 2025 Newsletter Est.1961 Handi-Crafters Opportunity Center provides individuals with various disabilities vocational job training, social enrichment, and the opportunity to ga

01/02/2026

Handi-Crafters is proud to recognize Pru Vito as our December 2025 Employee of the Month! ⭐️

For 18 years, Pru has been a cornerstone of our Production Department and one of the true steady hands of Handi-Crafters.

Pru is smart, consistent, and deeply dependable. She is the driving force behind the Crazy Aaron account, where she manages a high-speed, high-production team with remarkable skill and composure. Her leadership is defined by accountability, confidence, an ever-present calm, and a gentle smile.

What truly sets Pru apart is her heart. She knows her team and she advocates for them every single day. Her workshop trusts her deeply, rely on her, and value her as both their boss and their confidant. Pru also brings out something essential in those she leads: accountability. She encourages her clients to take ownership of their work and their choices—an invaluable life lesson that strengthens their confidence and independence. She sets expectations with kindness, reinforces them with consistency, and celebrates the growth that comes from learning, trying, and doing.

Pru’s dedication, adaptability, and genuine compassion embody the very best of our mission and our values. We are proud to recognize her as Employee of the Month and grateful for the extraordinary leadership she brings to Handi-Crafters every day.

Please join us in congratulating our December 2025 Employee of the Month, Pru Vito! 🩷💙

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from all of us here at Handi-Crafters! 🥳

Thank you to our ENTIRE organization for making 2025 an unforgettable year!!!💙🩷 We appreciate your steadfast commitment, tireless dedication, and unwavering support!

We look forward to an exciting 2026 celebrating 65 years of Handi-Crafters! 🤩 Be sure to stay tuned for exciting updates, special events, and all the good news in the new year!

We wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

12/31/2025

Handi-Crafters Opportunity Center is proud to celebrate dedicated staff who go above and beyond each day for our HCOC community. ⭐️

The Going the Extra Mile "GEM" Award honors individuals who consistently exceed expectations by demonstrating exceptional dedication, initiative, and a willingness to go above and beyond their regular responsibilities. Recipients of this award embody a spirt of commitment, teamwork, and excellence, making a significant impact on their colleagues, clients, and the organization as a whole. Their actions reflect a proactive approach to challenges and a genuine desire to contribute to the success and well-being of others.

This year, we are proud to recognize Nurse Marcia Basehore as the recipient of the 2025 GEM Award! 🩷💙

Since joining Handi-Crafters in 2012, Marcia has been a constant source of support, compassion, and strength for our program participants and our staff. As a nurse, she plays a vital role in supporting the health, safety, and overall well-being of every individual we serve. With a calm and compassionate presence, she provides daily medical oversight, administers medications, responds to health concerns, and works closely with families, program specialists, and outside healthcare providers to ensure complete continuity of care. She bridges the gap between in-care support and Handi-Crafters seamlessly, ensuring information is shared clearly and with respect. Marcia’s guidance, feedback, positivity, patience, and understanding are vital to the success of our organization, and her magic touch helps our program participants though any challenging times they may face. Marcia treats every person with humility, dignity, ease, and profound care. Her ability to assess needs quickly and skillfully handle emergent situations with sound judgment keeps our clients safe and thriving each day.

Marcia is a true gift to our organization—boosting morale the moment she arrives with her warm and welcoming presence. She enhances each client’s ability to fully participate in our programs and activities simply by being who she is.

We are endlessly grateful for all the ways Marcia goes the extra mile every single day.

Please join us in congratulating our Going the Extra Mile Award Winner—Marcia Basehore!