Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation – mohrmn.org

Jennifer Crosby-Zarth, Partnership Resources, Inc., 952-393-5913, jzarth@partnershipresources.org Aaron Hustedde, for MOHR, 651-452-9800, aaron@wallacegroup.com

HEALTHY FOR LIFE MEALS NAMED OUTSTANDING DISABILITY EMPLOYER BY MINNESOTA ORGANIZATION FOR HABILITATION AND REHABILITATION

Outdoor award presentation set for Thursday, October 28 at 1 p.m. at Healthy for Life Meals, 4301 Quebec Ave N, New Hope, MN 55428.

Nominated by Partnership Resources, Inc. (PRI), Healthy for Life Meals (HFLM) was named an Outstanding Disability Employer by the Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation, MOHR, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

“People with disabilities are engaged and thriving in jobs across our state and we are very thankful for the employers who extend these opportunities,” said Julie Johnson, president of MOHR. “. We would encourage more employers to get on board and discover the talent pool they are missing." MOHR represents about 100 disability service providers across the state.

In providing community-based services to individuals with disabilities, PRI has partnered with HFLM for 17 years. HFLM is a nutritionally controlled, fresh meal service based in in New Hope that prepares, packages and delivers complete, chef-prepared, balanced meal plans throughout Minnesota and six other Midwest states. The meals follow guidelines set by health and nutrition experts, providing the nutritional content needed to help safely reach and maintain weight loss and other health-related goals.

Since August 2004, HFLM has employed a team of four staff supported through PRI. As a small business with just 28 employees, HFLM embraces the PRI group as an integral part of the complete team. The group fills an important role in assuring the integrity of the nutritional content of each meal by executing critical measuring and portioning functions for the various meal components – an important step in the meal packaging process, explains PRI Development Director Jennifer Crosby-Zarth.

Jim Keegan, partner and chief operating officer of HFLM, actively works daily in the kitchen. When asked, Keegan said employees from PRI are part of the reason HFLM has been a success. “Helping each individual to develop and hone their unique skills and talents results in an exceptional ability to work as a team, communicate, and to create an exceptional product for our customers.” Keegan’s continual training, mentoring, and hands-on involvement with staff has been paramount in building inclusion and diversity with the whole HFLM team.

“With help wanted signs everywhere, more Minnesota employers are discovering that people with disabilities can meet their needs and become part of their workforce,” said Johnson. “Every year, we see more people with disabilities entering the workforce as their talents and skills are recognized, valued and put to good use for our economy.”

Johnson will present the award at an outdoor event on October 28 at 1 p.m. at Healthy For Life Meals, 4301 Quebec Avenue North in New Hope. MOHR’s mission is to “Advocate and support its nonprofit members in providing meaningful services to persons with disabilities and communities served.” Members are committed to respect for each individual, a person-centered approach and expanding work opportunities.

Celebrated every October, this year’s theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” The theme reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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