Beverly shop aids developmentally disabled people
Gumption Gifts, in the Beverly community of Chicago, is a store devoted to making a profit, but changing perceptions and helping people is just as important.
The store, 1814 W. 103rd St., has been open about three years and is run under the auspices of CARC, an agency that has been providing services to people with developmental disabilities and their families for more than 40 years. Gumption Gifts is partially staffed by developmentally disabled people.
The staff is guided by CARC employees but handles the day-to-day operation of the store – including making sales, helping customers, conducting inventories and even taking care of the store’s Web site.
Ian MacNeil, director of business development for CARC, said the store is operated by a not-for-profit agency but looks like, and is run like, a typical retail store.
“This is not a resale store and that surprises a lot of people, but we are happy with that. We like to surprise people,” MacNeil said.
Tastefully decorated and stocked with items that would be found in any upscale boutique, the store is trendy and chic, or “chichi ooh lah lah,” according to MacNeil.
Leandrea “lele” Kenney, 25, has worked at Gumption Gifts for three years – working her way up to handling a variety of tasks, including Web site sales.
“I check on the Web site, do inventory, handle sales, I do a lot of things,” Kenney said. “I like the bosses. I like the people who come here and shop, and I like to help people who shop here.”
