Create healthy eating patterns with foods you love.  Join us in Tasting the Rainbow.  Challenge yourself to try all of the above items by playing blackout bingo with us.  At MyPlate you will find resources to eat on a budget, create healthy meals and more.  Click on the button below to see what's on your plate today!

Written by Em Rainer

This year, Project SEARCH- Menomonie looked a little different. 

Unfortunately, we had to leave our "home site" and were tasked with finding a new location during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the school year on the horizon, we were unsure where we were going to end up. 

L.E. Phillips Career Development Center gave us a home away from home. The CDC partnered with us and provided a location where interns would be able to work side-by-side with folks, a classroom, mentors, and an unbelievable amount of support. While we may not be here next year, we will forever be grateful to the CDC for opening its doors to us.

After a summer of hustle and bustle to prepare for the school year, the interns were able to join us in-person in September. Due to the pandemic, many sites across the country have been struggling with virtual classes and site closures. With support from the CDC, we have been able to stay open and serve our interns! Since September, our interns have been able to work within various departments including custodial, packaging and assembly, woodshop, administration, and the print shop! We continue to look forward to working with other departments as interns develop and master new skills. 

Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program for young adults with disabilities. This program includes hands-on instruction and time in the classroom to learn employability skills. Interns in the program complete three rotations at a local business with the goal of gaining the necessary skills to obtain competitive employment. 

Check out our website, and Facebook! 

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​We are excited to bring in 2021 at the CDC Outreach Office.

2020 was a year of ups and downs and surprises in between.  We had a very busy year providing almost 3000 services to individuals over the year, services like emergency shelter, rent assistance, street outreach, food and hygiene, and Community Cupboard visits. Of those services we served 501 unique individuals. That means that the 3,000 services were provided to 501 different individuals/households. That’s a lot of people! Our 2019 data was about half of these numbers.

In 2020 we received several grants and many coat and warm weather item donations from our community. The Salvation Army in Chippewa Falls closed at the end of the year. From them we received a full size fridge and freezer so we can store frozen foods for donation. This will be great in the spring and summer when we get produce donations also. With that, we are also partnering with the Salvation Army for laundry and food services in the upcoming months. 
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We are currently working on revamping our office, expanding our donation and food pantry area and adding a computer station and private meeting area. In the spring will come the big project of cleaning and organizing our 900 sqft Community Cupboard! 

Like and Follow us on Facebook: ​www.facebook.com/CDCOutreachOffice

Written by Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator

Here is a great resource that will automatically connect you to AmazonSmile.​  

Smilematic is a free Chrome extension that will automatically turn your everyday Amazon purchases into AmazonSmile donations.  Not a Chrome user?  Smilematic Also supports Safari, Firefox & Edge.

Here's the tool: https://couponfollow.com/smilematic

Smilematic will automatically redirect our supporters to our charity every time, so you'll never miss out on a donation again to the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center.

Thank you for your support! 

"Working Together To Make A Difference."

Written by Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator

Layers are the best choice for staying warm in cold weather. Not only do the winter clothes themselves act as insulation, but the air between the layers insulates, too.
Here are layers to consider when dressing this winter: socks, underwear, middle layer, boots, jacket, hat, gloves and snowpants to consider depending on the conditions

Six simple tips to avoid slips, trips and falls during the winter season: 

1. Keep walkways, stairways and other work areas clear.
2. Remove hazards, such as water on floors and snow on sidewalks, immediately.
3. When walking, look where you are going and have your hands ready to steady yourself should you slip. - Walk like a penguin.
4. Avoid carrying heavy loads that may compromise your balance.
5. Mark hazardous areas. Use temporary signs, cones, barricades or floor stands to warn passing workers.
6. Outside, wear footwear with heavy treads for increased traction. Walk along grassy areas if a walkway is covered in ice. Make yourself visible to drivers by wearing a brightly colored jacket or clothes.

For more safety tips this winter visit: 
https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/winter

Make the most out of your holidays this season.  During these uncertain times, events and gatherings have been cancelled.  We postponed our holiday party this year to ensure the safety of our employees, but we didn't cancel celebrating the season.  Our planning committee put together "Holiday Happenings" at the Career Development Center.  This is a month long celebration of the season.  Bringing joy to our employees all month long with holiday treats, beverages, gifts and dress up days.  

For more ideas on celebrating the holidays and enjoying small gatherings safely this year visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html.  

Happy Holidays from your friends at the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center.

​The purpose of this blog is to start really building up excitement for the big day.

It’s almost go time! We’re just a week away from Giving Tuesday and our organization has set a goal to raise $5000 by the end of the year by working together to make a difference for individuals with disabilities and disadvantages.  It’s true that it takes a village to ignite real change, so we’re pumped to have our supporters rally with us to create a lasting impact through giving this year.  If you haven’t done so already, please visit our site to create awareness and tell your friends and family about our campaign.

Spreading the word gets our voices heard and the donations rolling in!

Giving Tuesday https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/OTM1Mjk=

Thank you for supporting our mission for over 61 years.  We wouldn't be here today without your support.

Written by Yao Long, UWEC Senior

​I am Yao Long, a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. In October 2020, I participated in a service-learning project to work with the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center to make promotional materials for a mask project hosted by the non-profit organization. With the help of Angela Kjellberg, the supervisor of the service-learning project, I got to know more about how the organization produced masks by themselves in order to better keep the community safe during the pandemic. It really surprised and moved me that the organization has donated over 60,000 masks since April and plans to donate 100,000 masks by the end of 2020. After completing a promotion video to introduce the mask project, Angela suggested sending me and my roommate (who helped to record the voiceover) some masks to protect our health. I am happy that the service-learning provides me an opportunity to get in touch with local organizations and contribute to our community.

To learn more about service learning projects available with L.E. Phillips Career Development Center connect with Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator at 715-834-2771 ext. 118 or visit ​https://servicelearning.apps.uwec.edu/ 

Written by Angela Kjellberg, Marketing Coordinator

Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community.  

The holidays are quickly approaching, and this is the time of year when we all pause and reflect on what we are most thankful for. Here at L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, it’s easy for us to know what we’re most thankful for – you!

Your generosity and commitment to our mission is what makes us a viable business enterprise providing meaningful and appropriate vocational services, employment opportunities, and community outreach services for individuals with disabilities or disadvantages.

The investments you have made in our community by donating your time, talent and treasure have helped us accomplish so much during these trying times.

Because of you, together we have improved our community and people’s lives. 
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On behalf of so many people in our community whose lives are better, thank you.