Tilly And Salvy's Bacon Street Farm Accepts Vocational Partner Award

From Tilly and Salvy's Bacon Street Farm: On Tuesday, November 29, 2016, Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm received the Vocational Partner Award during Crossroads School’s #GivingTuesday Assembly. Rick Ciccarelli, owner of Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm, accepted the award on behalf of the store.

Luca Palladino, a Crossroads student, has been working at Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm for the past year. His responsibilities include pricing items, stocking and organizing shelves, and as of recently, helping with deliveries. Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm received this award because of the support they have given to Luca and Crossroads School’s Vocational Program.

“When Luca walks in the door, his shift has started and our staff fade into the background. Rick takes over as his boss and all of Luca’s co-workers are extremely supportive of him. They take the time to listen to him as he uses his device to communicate. Luca has gained not only vocational skills, but also grown socially because of his job at Tilly’s,” said Ryan Hand, M.Ed., BCBA, LABA, Educational & Behavioral Services Coordinator.

“Rick [is] making it possible for Luca to practice important life skills that some may take for granted; and Luca is learning the necessary skills to become a responsible and productive worker. This, in turn, is giving him a sense of belonging in the community, as well as helping Luca become a stronger, more confident young man,” said Maria Palladino, Luca’s mother.

Crossroads’ curriculum provides students with hands-on experience in a simulated work environment that trains individuals in basic generalizable vocational and life skills related to most careers. When students have demonstrated the ability to meet the demands of a simulated work environment, they are provided the opportunity to enter external job sites. Currently, Crossroads is partnered with fourteen businesses in the Natick area to allow students to sample a variety of opportunities.

“At Crossroads School we strive to help students acquire the skills needed to lead fulfilling lives. We believe all people are deserving of a vocation—that special combination of a calling and an opportunity to contribute to society. We profess our profound thanks to Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm, and in particular, to its owner, Rick Ciccarelli, for helping our students find and cultivate their vocation,” Anthony Cammilleri, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, Crossroads School’s President and CEO, said.

“Crossroads School is an outstanding school. They have such caring, dedicated staff. We are so happy to have a working relationship with such a wonderful school. We are so proud to be part of a team that is helping to enrich the lives of others. We love having Luca at Tilly’s and he loves being here. We look forward to a continued relationship with Crossroads School,” said Rick Ciccarelli, owner of Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm.

The Vocational Partner Award was presented to Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm during Crossroads School’s #GivingTuesday Assembly. For the second year in a row, Crossroads joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of philanthropy that harnesses the collective powers of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy. Crossroads’ #GivingTuesday campaign has raised $47,000 thus far in their efforts to purchase eight additional SMART Boards so each classroom is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology.

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