“I got the job,” Coach Mike said proudly, as his sister stood beside him beaming and a TV camera captured the exchange for tons of viewers at home. It was a touching moment for all of us here at HSS who have been rooting Mike Kuhlmann on from the sidelines, watching as he pursued his dream...
Over the years, our annual celebration event has evolved from a dinner with clients, families and staff to this year’s full banquet and program at The Falls Reception & Conference Center in Columbia. We were honored to host a crowd of more than 250 people on Oct. 17, 2018 as we celebrated our clients, staff and...
Today, I am glowing. Or to be more exact, I am basking in your brilliance. On Friday, at the second annual Shine Your Light Gala, we asked you to let your light shine bright. And boy, did you deliver. As we continue to tabulate the final results of the donations collected through our auctions and raffles, and reminisce...
For nearly half a century, Human Support Services has been shining a light of hope on the people of our community who need help to pursue their best lives. Whether she’s a working mom who needs outpatient counseling services to be her best self, or he is an individual with a developmental disability who needs job...
With blue polo shirts tucked neatly into khaki pants, the two women shuffle their hands in nervous excitement, eager to greet their next guests. For days now, this is the moment they’ve been prepping for. The linens have been washed and lovingly arranged on the beds. Fresh baked muffins sit on the kitchen countertop. It’s showtime. Welcome...
When Shawn steps into the Walmart parking lot, he stands a little taller. A slight smile is almost always on his face as he moves through his workday. The job involves a seemingly neverending task — moving shopping carts from the edge of the lot to the inside of the building. Some might groan and complain. But...
Her hands are dusted in flour as they knead dough, purposefully molding the bread into shape. Later, she’ll mix batter for cakes, carefully measuring ingredients and scooping the soft gooey mixture into the pans. It’s methodic, calming work. There’s something rewarding about watching the fruits of her labor come to life as the baked goods rise in...
Our clients are going places, figuratively and literally. As individuals and as a group, they’ve achieved incredible success over the last year as they propel themselves forward on the path to their best lives. They’ve found jobs, excelled in training opportunities, engaged socially in the community and gained independent housing. For them, the roads ahead are filled with...
Craig Laskowski didn’t intentionally seek out a career working with individuals with disabilities — he believes his path in life led him there. Laskowski went to McKendree University to play baseball, not knowing exactly what he wanted to do professionally. An inspiring psychology teacher steered him toward a path in human services, but even after graduation,...
