Happy Hour Service Center: Northrop Grumman presents grant

Northrop Grumman in Warner Robins presented Houston County Association for Exceptional Citizens, Inc., more commonly known as Happy Hour Service Center, with a grant in the amount of $1,250. Community Relations Coordinator for the association, Bruce Hullett, shared that the nonprofit organization, since 1956, is a vocational training facility for adults with disabilities.

“We train them in social skills, life skills and so forth, so they are able to function in the community, because they have every right, just like you and I do,” Hullett explained. He further noted Happy Hour is known by many for the recycling service that they provide, which is just one among others. Executive Director of the organization, Stan Blaxton, later extended that he believed that the center kept around 1,050 tons of cardboard out of the landfill last year.

Hullett informed that some of the individuals involved in the program live on-site and are cared for by Happy Hour around the clock. Blaxton added that many are not aware that Happy Hour is home to theses individuals and that the organization is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, in some form.

Hullett expressed that Happy Hour relies on donations and support from the local community, as well as state funding.

“The partnerships that we have with businesses … and support are just invaluable. It’s hard to put real emphasis on how valuable that they are,” Hullett shared. He added that they wouldn’t be able to do what it is that they do without, not only their employees, but volunteer services as well; some offered from local businesses.

“Especially in these times, the small businesses in this Robins region, whenever they can pull together and collaborate and do things, it takes the burden off of some folks, and it helps very much,” Hullett mused.

Unit Operating Director at Northrop Grumman in Warner Robins, Larry Pittman, who presented the check for the grant, stated that the company seeks to partner with a number of local organizations every year, with one area sought being in the environmental category.

“For me, I was excited to find somebody where we could fund the environmental area, and two, helping the individuals and help train members of our community that may not get that opportunity otherwise. For me, it was special. I’m glad we were able to do it,” Pittman proclaimed.

HHJ News