Live United, By Garry Hart

Cedar Valley Services Inc. is a private nonprofit organization that works with adults with disabilities in Freeborn County. Cedar Valley has been part of the community for over 50 years, providing work training, work development and transportation to adults with disabilities. The disability can range from a person with developmental disability to someone who has some mental health concerns. 

Cedar Valley Services receives United Way funding to assist with community employment and transportation. This funding provides adults with support for work development, job training and transportation. The United Way is an important partner with Cedar Valley and helps over 45 people with disabilities in community employment options. 

One of Cedar Valley’s successful workers is Heather. She has been an employee with Cedar Valley Services since 2003. Heather works at a variety of places at our community sites. She has been a great worker who is part of our cleaning team. She currently is scheduled and works at Green Mill, Godfather’s Pizza, Village Cooperative, Motor Inn, Schipps Power Wash and the Albert Lea Public Library. When she works independently at job sites, she is paid minimum wage. She also works as needed with the Cedar Valley Day cleaning crew. Heather is great at ensuring all sites are meeting the needs of the customer. She is very detailed on what she is working on and takes pride in doing a great job. Heather take pride in her work sites and enjoys helping others. We are very fortunate to have Heather, with her dedication and reliability, as part of our Cedar Valley Services team in Albert Lea.    

Cedar Valley continues to look for community contracts and other work opportunities for people with disabilities. If you would like to know more about Cedar Valley, please contact me at 379-9869.

Garry Hart is the Albert Lea division director of Cedar Valley Services Inc.