Allied Services Work Services Program creates employment through community partnerships

For over sixty years, Allied Services Integrated Health System has provided vocational training and employment for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. Through their Work Services Program, more than 500 participants currently gain practical workplace skills and earn wages at workshops in Scranton and Stroudsburg. This initiative provides more than just a job, offering a structured environment that fosters independence, confidence, and community involvement for those seeking to reach their personal goals.

The program succeeds through direct partnerships with local businesses. One example is a fifteen-year collaboration with Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply in Jessup. Each month, program participants refurbish tens of thousands of metal garment hangers. These hangers, which would otherwise be discarded, are cleaned, reshaped, and prepared for reuse. Operations Director Aaron Gilchrist reports that this partnership accounts for 30 percent of the company’s hanger restoration, providing a consistent supply chain for the business while creating stable work for participants.

Beyond individual success, the program provides tangible support to regional companies by handling manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and janitorial tasks. Other regional entities, including Weiler Abrasives and Run-Rite, maintain long-standing production contracts with Allied Services. These arrangements allow businesses to reduce hiring and training burdens while securing high-quality, reliable work.

Leadership at Allied Services remains focused on growth. They are actively seeking new business partnerships across Northeast Pennsylvania to create further opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Every contract signed contributes to a larger goal of supporting the local workforce while ensuring that all participants can contribute to their community and achieve a greater level of personal autonomy. Organizations interested in the program can connect with the vocational team through the Allied Services website.