Approximately 90 people were served a fish-fry lunch outside of the Hobnobbin’ Pub on Vassar Road in Poughkeepsie on Sunday, July 13, helping raise $1,500 for educational, cultural and recreational activities for the Life Skills Enhancement Center. The Center falls under the umbrella of Poughkeepsie-based REHAB Programs, Inc., offering 18-to-25-year-old young adults the necessary training and tools to transition into adulthood.
Fifteen young adults with a wide range of disabilities who currently attend the center will benefit from the charity event.
According to Merrick Egan, owner of the Hobnobbin’ Pub, 10 percent of his restaurant’s sales that day were being given to the center.
“It’s wonderful to partner with the community,” Egan said, adding that once a month he usually sets aside Sunday or Monday nights for charity events.
Egan said he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to help one of his close friends, Pat Charland, who Egan describes as “a great guy,” whose daughter, Nicole Charland, attends the center.
“It’s great,” Pat Charland said, regarding his satisfaction with the day’s events and the changes he’s seen in his daughter with the center’s help.
“I’ve seen major changes in her (Nicole) within the year since she got out of high school,” Pat Charland said. He said Nicole attends the Life Skills Enhancement Center four days a week. Nicole has worked at Marist College in the kitchen, while she currently works between 2-3 days a week at the Omega Institute in Poughkeepsie.
According to Jay Hunt, REHAB life skills counselor, he and the rest of the staff teach young adults how to acquire vocational and socialization skills, and learn how to manage money.
Hunt said he has seen “dramatic changes” within six to seven months from those he works with in the program, “everything from politeness to working well as a team,” he said.
Serena Marrero, director of development for REHAB Programs, Inc. said Hobnobbin’ contacted her about a month ago wanting to help out.
Marrero acknowledged that several volunteers assisted with the fish-fry and many local businesses also donated prizes as raffle giveaways for the event.
In addition to the Hobnobbin’, Adam’s Fairacre Farms, Durants Tents & Events, H.A. Schreck, Inc. McCann Memorial Golf Course, Sprout Creek Farms, Laura & Paul Carmine and Connie Cuozzo helped to sponsor or make the event possible.
REHAB Programs, Inc. is a nonprofit organization, providing a wide range of educational, vocational, residential and clinical programs and services to people with disabilities of all ages in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
REHAB Programs, Inc. receives most of its funding from the government, with about 3 percent of its budget raised from foundations and individuals.