Angela has been very busy working and volunteering in her community, thanks to support from the team at Work Opportunities Unlimited (WOU). Keene team Career Resource Specialists Amy Vaughn and Liz Carney-Olmstead, who have provided supported employment services for Angela, share Angela’s amazing achievements and progress – including a fantastic new job and a volunteer award!
With her great sense of humor, love of pop culture and spooky things like true crime and ghost stories, soft heart for animals (especially her cat), and passion for art, Angela has a lot to offer her community. She volunteers at multiple organizations, including the Humane Society, Salvation Army, and Keene Family Y. She wanted to secure paid employment as well. Her previous work experience included roles in retail and at a local college’s dining hall, but she needed some assistance finding the right job for her needs. Liz explains, “The biggest priority for her was having a supportive work environment in which she does not feel judged or rushed.”
L to R: Liz Carney-Olmstead, Angela
Angela started Walgreen’s in-store training program, Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative (REDI), at their Keene, NH location in July 2024. REDI’s aim is to help people with disabilities gain retail and customer service skills, with the ultimate goal of being hired as an employee. At first, Angela was hesitant and battled with coming out of her shell, and she was not initially recommended for hire. She did not let this discourage her, however, as she was granted an extension which allowed her to continue her growth at Walgreens. With support from her WOU team and coworkers, Angela worked hard to apply feedback and improve upon her skills the second time around. She exceeded all expectations and was hired as a Walgreens employee in February 2025! Angela works two days each week, completing various tasks like stocking and organizing shelves, pulling products that are close to their expiration date, cashiering, and assisting shoppers with finding what they need. She has now memorized the store layout and confidently engages with customers.
Liz and Amy are incredibly proud of Angela’s hard work and self-discipline, noting in particular her success with cashiering. Amy shares, “Before she began the REDI program, we were concerned that she would struggle with running the cash register due to both cognitive and social barriers. Mastering this task is a very big deal for Angela.” Liz agrees, noting, “The REDI program was a good fit for Angela, as it provided her with an opportunity to build her retail and customer service skills in a comfortable, low-stress environment at her own pace, which was vital to her success. She has an excellent support system at Walgreens and when she was hired, her fellow team members were thrilled. Angela fits right in and is given the space/time to build her success at the Keene Walgreens. She has really flourished.”
Angela’s success at Walgreens is due in part to the many skills she’s gained at the Keene Family Y as the Staff Engagement Volunteer. Amy maintains an excellent relationship with the Keene Family Y, where many WOU clients, just like Angela, have felt a sense of belonging and satisfaction. Angela originally tried childcare and administrative roles at the Y, but none seemed like a good fit. Then Amy learned of their brand-new staff break room from the Senior Program Director, and a new idea stirred. She explains, “There are lots of different departments at the Y, and the staff of those departments don’t have many opportunities to engage with colleagues from other programs. Angela went on a mission to solve that, and Staff Engagement was created!”
As the Staff Engagement Volunteer, Angela has learned how to edit spreadsheets and format photos for printing. She learned to advocate for herself in a professional manner
and engage in problem-solving discussions when staff didn’t respond to emails or submit entries for her activities. While delivering and collecting entry slips and boxes throughout the Y, she met staff from each department and gained the soft skills and confidence that ultimately helped her land her job at Walgreens. Amy says, “She’s learned awesome job skills and social skills, her self-esteem and self-confidence has skyrocketed, and her hard work and dedication led Angela to be the unanimous choice among the staff at the Y for the 2024 Adult Volunteer of the Year!”
L to R: Liz Carney-Olmstead, Cindy Puza, Angela
Her perseverance, creativity, and willingness to try new things – as well as the support of Amy and Liz – have contributed to remarkable successes for Angela. Liz says, “Angela has grown quite a bit from her employment services. She has learned a plethora of skills through the years, is improving on her accountability every day, and has formed great relationships with those she sees in the community – at the Y, the Salvation Army, Walgreens, and the Humane Society.” Amy adds, “I’m honestly in awe of Angela’s progress and accomplishments.” Angela has made the WOU Keene team proud!
