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Sunday, February 11, 2018
As Reported by Ashley McCallum of the Janesville Gazette
Chris Wilson has volunteered with his father at Agrace Thrift Store in Janesville for almost two years. He has logged more than 93 hours. He also works as a packager at KANDU.
Chris Wilson’s personality is more vibrant than the pink-and-orange-striped couch he sat on while talking to people at Agrace Thrift Store in Janesville on Wednesday.
Chris, a 34-year old Janesville resident, volunteers every Tuesday at the thrift store, he said. He has logged more than 93 hours of volunteer work in the past two years.
He also has Down syndrome, so his father, Rick, drives him to all his volunteer shifts and works with him.
Chris’ main task is an important one—pricing and hanging clothes to be sold, store manager Patty Groessel said.
The family started volunteering at Agrace Thrift Store after a recommendation from Jayme Roth, the former development and community relations manager for Agrace Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Janesville, Rick said.
Chris’ mother, Sue, knew Roth from sewing and donating nearly 2,000 hospital gowns for the nonprofit over the years, Rick said.
Sue volunteered with Chris until she was diagnosed with leukemia last year, Rick said. She has since had a stem cell transplant and is recovering.
Rick filled in for Sue because he thinks it is important for Chris to be active in the community. He wants people to understand Chris’ world and grow more comfortable with what makes him different.
Aside from Agrace, Chris volunteers with Meals on Wheels and works as a packager at KANDU Industries, he said.
Chris loves meeting new people and has a knack for remembering names. He rattled off to a Gazette reporter first and last names of his bosses, co-workers and other people he met along the way.
Rick hopes to teach his son the value of hard work, and while Chris likes working, he also likes its rewards. He was ecstatic to get his first debit card—a Visa card with Dalmatians on it—that he shows off with pride.
Chris whips out his card at restaurants when he treats his parents to dinner with his earnings, Rick said.
The family is grateful for the opportunities Chris has at KANDU, a company that provides a variety of jobs for people with special needs.
Chris and Rick joined the Rock County A-Team, a group that represents people with varying ability levels.
Chris has traveled to Madison and Washington, D.C., to advocate for his right to work when legislation threatened to eliminate programs like KANDU’s, Rick said.
Later this month, Chris will meet Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to discuss government programs that support people like him.
While Chris’ community work affects many, his positive attitude reaches far more.
Goessler said Chris gave her the best compliment she ever received. He told her she would be his maid of honor in his wedding one day.
Chris smiled when she retold that story and gave her one of dozens of hugs the two have shared.
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