Changing Lives and How You Can Help

January 18, 2008

State Representative David W. Floyd

One of my legislative jobs is to serve on the House Health & Welfare Committee. We deal with a wide range of issues, and it’s the toughest committee there. The main reason for this is that every public health advocacy group in Kentucky makes its way to Frankfort to testify for us. They are there to talk to us about the need, and there are many needs in this Commonwealth.

I believe that every American citizen has an opportunity to succeed and it’s best for all concerned if they do it on their own with hard work and perseverance. Some folks run into difficulty from time to time and need assistance. We find help for those in need so that they can get back on their own two feet as soon as possible. We should not run a system that encourages sloth, but rather one that paves a path to self-sufficiency so that people can contribute to society and not be a drain on it. That should work for most, but consider with me those people who are mentally retarded or developmentally disabled; what hope can we give them and their families?

When you think of a mentally retarded person, the image that usually comes to mind is of a child. Well, that child grows into an adult. Who takes care of them after they’ve grown? How can we provide for them? These are questions that come before the Health & Welfare Committee. There is an answer and it’s so good you can hardly believe it. The best example I know is in Bardstown, at Nelson County Industries (NCI).

After I was first elected, Dan Simpson invited me to look at the operation in the old sewing factory. Dan works for Communicare, which operates NCI. I knew very little about anything that was going on there. I’ll confess to you that most of my life I was uncomfortable around people who are mentally retarded; didn’t know how to talk to them. When I walked into the old sewing factory that’s about all I saw. And you know what they were doing? They were working!

Dan gave me a tour. I knew some of the workers and got some hugs. I noticed the old building was in bad shape. It was also busy. This was a genuine workplace; no make-work here. I remember thinking that the companies that contracted with NCI were good and faithful citizens, and remarked on that to Dan. He agreed, but also told me that NCI competes for the jobs that they get. They bid it out, and it has to make sense for the manufacturer and for NCI.

This has been going on for over 30 years. Three hundred human beings have been served in this way, just in Nelson County. They go to work and earn a paycheck. They pay taxes. They shop in local stores. They contribute to society.

Every year at Christmas time the Nelson County Association for the Handicapped hosts a dinner to celebrate another year of this miracle. The workers come forward and receive a certificate and some of them give a little talk, thanking the Communicare folks, their families and fellow workers. They are so happy to be making a living like anyone else. It’s just beautiful.

The program is a great success. The number of people served has doubled. The current site at the old sewing factory is crumbling and they need to move. NCI has an ambitious plan to build a proper workplace and increase the number of people that they serve. Time is short, and they need your help to make this happen.

Please consider a generous donation to Nelson County Industries. Your tax-deductible gift will be matched by an anonymous donor, doubling your impact in supporting this worthy cause. Send it to Nelson County Industries, Attn: Building Project, 801 Allison Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004. For more information call Shannon Oller at 502-348-0585 or 502-507-3835.

Hearing from you is the best part of my job. Call me at home or leave a message at 800-372-7181. If you’d like to meet and talk I’ll be buying the coffee at 10:00 on Saturday at the Food Market in Boston.