At a bustling community kitchen in South Philadelphia, a group of high school students in aprons moved with purpose — making sandwiches and packing meals for those in need.
They were joined by Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker, who recently visited the Philabundance Community Kitchen to meet with more than a dozen young adults participating in MY Work, a state-run summer employment program designed for high school students with disabilities. The initiative, led by L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), connects students with hands-on job opportunities in their communities — and in this case, a chance to give back while gaining work experience.
“Every summer, I’m inspired by the determination, talent, and enthusiasm of the students in the MY Work program,” said Walker. “This visit to Philabundance highlights the impact MY Work is making not only on the students participating, but also on thousands of local children who are able to have breakfast and lunch thanks to the work being done at the organization’s community kitchen.”
“Programs like this don’t just build skills, they build confidence, instill purpose, and provide real opportunity,” Walker added.
OVR has helped more than 478,500 residents with disabilities access employment services since 2016, according to state officials.
Through a range of individualized supports — including vocational counseling, skills training, job placement, and career guidance — OVR works to prepare individuals with disabilities for success in the competitive labor market.
This summer, OVR has connected more than 500 students with paid work experiences at 100 worksites. In partnership with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) – a nonprofit that partners with public systems to provide behavioral health services – OVR has helped 17 students get hired at the Philabundance Community Kitchen. The students help make sandwiches, pack meals, and label boxes as part of Philabundance’s LunchBox 2025 program, which is providing 40,000 lunches and 20,000 breakfasts to local children this summer.
“Philabundance is deeply grateful for the YAP and OVR volunteers who help us not only pack meals but also feed our community through our Summer LunchBox Program,” said Loree D. Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance. “One in six children in our region are food insecure. For many children, school meals provide nourishment they may not be able to receive at home. This partnership enables us to close the summer meal gap and deliver on our mission to drive hunger from our community today and end hunger for good.”
Now in its fourth year, the partnership between YAP and OVR has supported more than 300 young people through the MY Work program. In addition to the students working at Philabundance, two students are employed through MY Work as assistant art counselors at West Park Cultural Center in West Philadelphia.
“Partnerships with these organizations and others provide opportunities for young people to gain an immense amount of confidence, valuable job readiness skills, and become more self-sufficient,” said YAP My Work Program Manager Chanel Summers. “We are simultaneously building a stronger Pennsylvania workforce for the future.”
