The Best Decision | Tom’s Story
Published August 13, 2025
Tom began receiving services at Merrick in May of 2024 after feeling dissatisfied with his previous day program. Like most individuals seeking employment opportunities at Merrick, he started on the work floor performing packing and light assembly jobs. Most days, he packed greeting cards. Though he enjoyed certain aspects of his job, Tom often felt restless and even bored at times. Therefore, when asked if he would consider joining one of Merrick’s recycling crews, he quickly agreed. He could not be happier with his decision.
Today, Tom proudly serves on Merrick’s Plastic Recycling Team and looks forward to going to work each day. Every morning, he eagerly checks in with his job coach, excited to hit the road and start collecting plastic from local businesses. Much of Tom’s day involves loading and unloading large volumes of plastic from the Merrick truck. While the work may seem routine to some, Tom genuinely enjoys the physical nature of the job and appreciates how it keeps him engaged in a way few other activities do. In fact, it’s the best job he’s ever had.
According to Tom’s support staff, Tom has exceeded expectations, proving himself a valuable worker and a wonderful team member. His job coach, Dena, continues to be impressed with how quickly Tom learned their daily routine and rarely needed prompting after the first couple of weeks on the crew. Along with his strong work ethic, Dena also appreciated his courteous nature and willingness to collaborate as part of a team. Tom was always willing to take turns performing tasks and often recommended local restaurants and attractions for the group to explore during their downtime.
For Tom, the past year has been an incredible journey since enrolling at Merrick and discovering the dream job he never even knew existed. Looking back, he’s amazed at how everything seemed to fall into place once he joined the crew. Reflecting on a time when he wasn’t satisfied with his job, he feels even more grateful for finally finding a job that truly resonates with him. He remains grateful to those who supported him along the way, then and now, knowing that without their encouragement, he would not be where he is today.