The Partnership
“In a time where you can never have enough employees, or it’s really hard to find employees, the Beyond26 workers that we have got have definitely filled a role… It’s not a charity program for us to hire them.” — Loren Hoppen, Owner, J&H Family Stores
The Partnership
J&H Family Stores, a well-established regional convenience store chain, partnered with Beyond26 to address staffing challenges while creating meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. What began as a commitment to community support has evolved into a strategic business advantage. Their partnership with Beyond26 has a positive impact on jobseekers, J&H employees, and their business.
The Impact
For the Business:
- Reliable Staffing Solution: In a challenging labor market, Beyond26 employees have worked hard and filled crucial staffing needs for the company
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Customers “absolutely love” the friendly, dedicated service and greetings from employees like Kevin and Darian.
- Improved Team Culture and Performance: District Manager, Brittany Grabinski, said the team morale has increased and employee satisfaction is higher
For the Employees:
- Stable, Meaningful Work: Employees like Kevin have found stable employment after struggling to find work
- Skill Development: Employees perform various roles including customer service at registers, stocking shelves, cleaning, trash disposal, and general store maintenance
- Sense of Accomplishment: As Kevin shares, “It gives me something constructive to do during the day, something productive that I can look back on and say, ‘Okay, I accomplished that'”
- Career Confidence: Beyond26 helps employees find work their confident doing, know they’re good at, and feel accomplished with
Building a Better Workplace
One unexpected benefit has been the positive effect on the entire team. Brittany notes that other team members have become “more empathetic, more patient, and really developing skills working with a diverse set of individuals.” This has contributed to a more positive workplace culture.
The partnership has been so successful that J&H has expanded it across multiple locations, with four Beyond26 jobseekers currently employed in Brittany’s district alone.
Beyond Charity: A Business Decision
J&H’s leadership emphasizes that this partnership isn’t charity—it’s a sound business decision. The Beyond26 employees are valuable team members who contribute to the company’s success while gaining meaningful employment.
The Recommendation
“I think it’s a no-brainer, and I would 100% encourage other companies to get involved with Beyond26.” — Brittany Grabinski, District Manager
J&H Family Stores has become not just an employer but also a business sponsor for Beyond26, recognizing that strengthening the program creates mutual benefits for the company, the employees, and the entire Beyond26 community.