Summer Favorite GrahamBerries are Back at Abilis!

July is national Blueberry Month and its the perfect time for delicious GrahamBerries to be available through Abilis! GrahamBerries are just-picked farm-fresh organic blueberries available each summer and sold through Abilis as part of the Abilis Gardens & Gifts Vocational Skills Training program. This year’s harvest of GrahamBerries are available now through mid-August, or as supplies last in Greenwich and Darien, Connecticut, at Abilis-run Cafés, Farmers Markets, Town Hall and with select partners, such as Boxcar Cantina in Greenwich. GrahamBerries are available for $14 a quart.

“Every July and August, our entire community looks forward to GrahamBerries time,” noted Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “GrahamBerries have become a beloved summer tradition that has a loyal following. Those who know and love these delicious blueberries, eagerly await their arrival reach year, and they often sell out quickly.”

GrahamBerries are about so much more than blueberries. They represent opportunity, inclusion, and meaningful employment.

“This is a special time for our Abilis community members, including Graham, the namesake behind GrahamBerries, who have the opportunity to be part of the sales team, interact with customers, and build valuable employment skills while sharing this wonderful treat throughout our community,” noted Montimurro. “The GrahamBerries initiative is a perfect example of how meaningful employment opportunities can build confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose. Having GrahamBerries as part of our Abilis Employment program creates opportunities that empower individuals with disabilities to contribute, connect, and be recognized for their abilities. We are grateful to the Orzulak family and Blueberry Hill for partnering with us to make this meaningful employment experience possible year after year.”

GrahamBerries have been a summer favorite for nearly 15 years. Selling the berries provides a wonderful opportunity for Graham Orzulak, and other individuals supported by Abilis, to learn valuable employment skills while engaging with the community. Through this initiatives, individuals gain hands-on experience in sales and customer service as they sell GrahamBerries around town, at Abilis-managed Cafés and the Island Beach Concession Stand.

The Orzulak family, who owns the blueberry farm Blueberry Hill, and their team pick the blueberries, package them and personally transport them to Greenwich, where the Orzulak’s son Graham and his team of blueberry sales staff set up locations around town.

“We knew that having a child with special needs would require some creative thinking when it came time for our son to have a job,” said Philippa Orzulak, Graham’s mother. “As our son was graduating school and was ready to work, we started thinking outside the box and worked with the Abilis team to come up with some work that Graham could do. He started with a paper shredding business and then serviced two snack vending machines. We started our organic blueberry farm in 2011 and decided that extending the blueberry sales to the Abilis community would be a good way to help individuals interact with the community and learn new job skills. Now after selling the blueberries locally for more than a decade, Graham is often referred to as ‘the Blueberry Mayor of Greenwich!”

Graham’s journey with Abilis began as an infant through our Birth to Three Early Intervention program. After being diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, Graham and his family received early supports designed to help him reach his developmental goals and build a strong foundation for the future. As Graham approached adulthood, his family shared a vision for him to continue growing, gaining independence, and experiencing meaningful opportunities in his community. Abilis worked alongside Graham and his family to create a person-centered plan that reflected his strengths, interests, and goals.

Through this partnership, Abilis developed an individualized day program tailored to Graham’s abilities and passions, helped create a welcoming and accessible home where Graham could live alongside friends, and designed an employment plan that allowed him to contribute in a meaningful way. One of those opportunities included selling and delivering organic blueberries grown on his family’s farm, transforming a family passion into a vocational experience that fostered independence, confidence and community connection.

GrahamBerries are available now through mid-August, or as long as supplies last, and are available for $14 a quart. GrahamBerries are available on a first-come-first-served basis and no phone orders will be accepted. GrahamBerries are sold at the following locations:

• Abilis: M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich, Connecticut
• Greenwich Town Hall: M-Th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 101 Field Point Road, Greenwich, Connecticut
• Pop-up at Cos Cob Firehouse: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 200 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut.
• Pop-up at Old Greenwich Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., 4 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, Connecticut.

Boxcar Cantina is also a community partner and GrahamBerries are used in special GrahamBerries Blueberry Margaritas at the Boxcar Cantina location at 44 Old Field Point Road, Greenwich, Connecticut.

Abilis’ GrahamBerries program is also part of Abilis Gardens & Gifts, one of Abilis’ many training sites. Abilis helps individuals explore their interests, build upon their strengths, and develop personalized career plans that lead to meaningful employment opportunities in the community.

Through hands-on training and real-world experiences, individuals supported gain valuable workplace skills, confidence, and independence. Abilis’ Competitive Employment program includes opportunities through businesses and community partnerships, including Abilis Gardens & Gifts, Abilis Cafés in Greenwich, Stamford and Darien, an Abilis paper shredding business and GrahamBerries,

Beyond Abilis’ own employment sites, the nonprofit organization partners with more than 100 local businesses to create additional opportunities for job training and competitive employment. Through partnerships with businesses such as Feinsod’s Ace Hardware, Gregorys Coffee, Stop & Shop, Something Natural, Home Depot, and The Greenwich Country Club, individuals supported by Abilis gain valuable experience, build professional relationships, and contribute their talents as valued members of the workforce.

“At Abilis, we believe employment is about more than a job, it is about belonging, purpose, independence, and the opportunity for every individual to achieve their goals and be recognized for their abilities,” said Montimurro.

To learn more about GrahamBerries call Abilis at 203-531-1880. To learn more about Abilis’ Competitive Employment program or the Abilis Gardens & Gifts Vocational Skills Training program, visit abilis.us.

Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc. or Instagram @abilis_us.