April 7, 2025 • 17 mins
We spoke with Vending Facilitator Kelly Ray and Person Served Mike Robinson about MARC INC.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest today is Kelly Ray, she's a vending facilitator at
Vending for Change. And also Mike Robinson, he's a person
served at Mark Inc. Of Manchester. Good morning, Good morning,
good morning. Vending for Change is dedicated to empowering individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities. How did Vending for Change
(00:24):
come about?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Mark has been doing vending services for years and we
received a grant to start a micro business and Vending
for Change then blossomed in around twenty nineteen. Vending for
Change an entity of Mark Inc. Of Manchester where our
people served own and operate their own vending machine company.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
And for people who don't know about Mark Maarc, what
is it?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
We're a nonprofit located in Manchester. We provide opportunities for
individuals with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So Mark Inc. And Vending for Change are connected to
each other and they do all of this amazing work together.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Correct. So we in Mark Inc. Of Manchester, we provide
several opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout different programs of
dso with work. We have day programs, Shannon's Place, residential
employment services. So when we received this grant back in
twenty nineteen, Mark saw this initiative for our people served
(01:26):
to own and operate their own vending machine company. We're
not there yet and that's one of our goals to
be freestanding and having our own company essentially.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
So tell me how people served are involved in vending
for change, what do they do?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So we have a crew about five people served people
with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities, and we have about
two staff and I oversee the entire company with of
course addition of help from our finance office and from
Mark and the support of Mark Inc. Of Manchester. We
have a variety of sites. We're also starting a snack
(02:05):
box business to and with the intentions of employing more
people with disabilities and really just trying to grow the
business and most importantly community awareness.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So the vending machines will actually help people with disabilities
and the community.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Correct our people will. We have our own a area
where we have over one hundred products to choose from.
We have about thirteen sites over twenty five vending machines.
We partner with Coca Cola and our crew goes to
select the items that are needed for those vending machines,
(02:43):
they package them, they carry it out, they restock the machines,
and then they come back. And we also have partners
with food Share and mac Charities in addition to.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
What kind of things are in the vending machines, all.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Wonderful tasty treats. So if you ever need that three
o'clock pick me up, it's always there. You can never
say no to a Snicker, so every machine has a
Snickers bar guaranteed. We have dry goods, candies, chips, even
things along the lines of gluten free and for that
healthy snackers. We even have beef jerky. So we have
(03:20):
dry goods and candies.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
But you do snack boxes as well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, when I came on board with Vending for Change
back in twenty one, I needed to learn the vending
business because it was new to me, and I had
this vision, how can I help other people and more
people get employed and how would we be able to
attract those smaller businesses in addition to personal purchases as well.
(03:45):
So I created this snack box business and for over
the next several years, we've a few years now we've
cultivated that and we're just trying to take off with it.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So I know that you have your face favorite boxes
for Mary, Jimmy and Billy, but Mike is here. Mike,
how do we not have a favorite box from you?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I guess one wasn't selective, but I'm sure I can.
I can get one at a time as well. Let
me use said that I'm I'm also in our administrative
offices Mark and Mark as a receptionist and uh and
the person that that is administer administrative as well.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yes, take me through your day when you go to work.
What's it like for you.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Going on the secret going into how great people in
the office such as Mike, our office managers to high
right Mike, coworker, Lizzie and any any way I can
be helpful at Mark, I might as too well said
that when I started in Mark years ago, Mark was
coming to Mark was in a show what they call
a shelter works stopping stop environment where we had a
(04:50):
lot of piece work donated by one of the factories
in Manchester. But then again, people there weren't many people
working in the in the outside as far as employ iman. Now,
if you said that the people's like it can't be done,
it can it can be done, But people have to
come and see Mark, to really appreciate and get an
idea as to what we're all about.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Tell me what has it done for you working there?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
It has blessed my life. It's a place to go
during the daytime to see, to keep myself busy, and
to be with great people as Kelly and everybody in
the office and just all around Mark all together.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
What are your hours like? Did you used to work
more hours? Less hours?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I pretty much pretty much we'rek gate to two. I
have never really done more hours up, but I was
when I was working in a Mark. In the beginning,
I worked at other sites. I worked at Pisa Hut
going to play coupons on doors. I worked at Jenny,
I worked one of the bank we had two bakery
outlets in Manchester, and then before I was working at
(05:53):
one of the banks in Manchester doing the same thing
I do in our administrative office, but they eliminated the position.
So here I am at Mark doing what I love
doing is taking calls and helping people.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
How nice. What would you say to somebody listening who
may want to go work there?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You can't find a better place. Everybody is always so friendly,
helpful in any way they can be.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
What do you think about the vending machines and the
snack boxes helping people?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I think it's a great idea. And as we grow,
as we go on and on and on, I know
Kelly and other people will come up with more ideas
to kind of help that advancement more.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
We started to talk about the specialty boxes and the
snack boxes, and we have the favorite boxes of Mary,
Jimmy and Billy. They have their favorites. Are those your
friends by any chance, Mike?
Speaker 3 (06:42):
They are? They are? In fact, I have a lot
of friends at Mark. But then again they're great people
as always as everybody as in Mark, and such a
pleasure to go win each day and be as helpful
as I can.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So, Kelly, maybe you want to tell me what's the
difference between Mary, Jimmy and Billy's favorite snap boxes?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Do you have in an l Actually, the idea of
our favorites is I wanted to highlight a person from
each program. So Jimmy is with our residential program and
Billy is our from our das from our employment. And
(07:21):
we have more to come with more favorites to add.
And don't you worry, Mike, I have you coming up
with our ad representing our admin team for your favorite.
So don't worry, I didn't leave you.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Sorry. I wasn't trying to cause I didn't mean to
cause trouble.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
No, I have a lot more work to do, so
I'm super very I'm very excited to highlight and then
inside each box, I also wanted to spotlight a person
serves per month, so you may not be so you
may not see them face to face, but then you
can see that you are actually helping out that particular
(08:00):
person and you can see the face that you are
changing and helping and support oh with each person.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
How nice is that the snack boxes can be specialty
boxes as well. Today you brought me an Easter one. Yes,
I love it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yes, inside each specialty box, each one is different. We
have Valentine Saint Patrick's super Bowl, Going to the Dogs
where we partnered with Leaps and Bones where they actually
make dog treats, so there's going to be one for that,
and we have It's just endless cramming for exams for
(08:36):
your kids, so that's the just for fun one. We
have Easter, and of course we have March Madness. So
I wasn't sure if you're a basketball fan or not,
so I just went with Easter.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, I love it. My daughter was at Western, and
that's what I would do. It was a box just
like this. The outside would be decorative and then she
would open it up and all of her snacks would
be in there. It's wonderful. What is the cost for
something like that.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Regular size? It's about twenty four ninety nine for and
it's about sixteen items or so. And that's just for
a regular snack box. For a specialty one, you just
add five dollars. We also do larger size boxes for
thirty nine ninety nine and again that doesn't include tax.
And then for any any of your favorites, you can
(09:21):
also upgrade to a specialty for additional five dollars.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Take me through the process from production to delivery, what happens.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So you can certainly call in and listen to our
lovely Mike, who's been with Mark for fifty five years,
so he's the legend.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Well you know, well, in fact, when I again when
I started with Mark years ago, back in sixty nine,
as to say, as I said, we were we were
just coming out of a workstop environment back then. So therefore,
if you were to mention the people about working on
the out side. You might be it can't happen, but
(10:00):
it has happened. It has happened, and you have to
really see it to really enjoy what crewise do we
have out there that are in the community.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But Mike, you don't look fifty five like could you be?
I mean, God, bless you, well, thank you, You're welcome,
you were saying, Kelly.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So you can either call into Mark Ink of Manchester
and speak to the legend Mike Robinson, or you can
go online to vending Change vending for change dot org
and you have your choices of picking out one of
our already pre selected of our favorites, or you can
select one of your favorites where you can actually build
your own box. So if you have that fun gag
(10:41):
gift that you want to give to a friend and
fill it up with nothing but cheetos, we can do
that and accommodate that. Or you can also do a
specialty box and our crew I would receive the order.
I would then pass it along to our vending crew.
They would then fill the box. In addition to that,
I had the vision to with the idea of employing
(11:02):
more people with disabilities when we are expanding, and we
will get there, because I'm very passionate about this, that
we would hire people with disabilities to build the boxes.
I would hire somebody that maybe in a wheelchair, would
do the shredding and the filling of the snack box.
Our vending crew would then fill it, and then once
(11:23):
that is done, we would then let you know that
when it's ready and you can swing by and pick
it up and meet some of our wonderful individuals that
created this box. And you're also with that, you're also supporting.
In addition to that, we can also do delivery, where
we would also hire somebody who maybe is a one
(11:44):
to one where they may not have the capabilities of
working out in the community, but they have they don't
mind going to a business or maybe at dropping off
a snack box at your house, and that employs that person.
So it's really an intense to not only bring community
awareness but also employ more people.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Kelly, does your boss know how good you are?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Like?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Does he have any idea? Like how your heart is
so into this and you eat, sleep, breathe and think
how else can I help people? Well, how can we
make this better. Does he have or she have a clue?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
He does the poor thing he does. I'm a very
emotional person, so he he knows when he disappoints me,
or or he knows how excited I am and how
passionate I am. And I did say just the other
day under my breath, this program will survive. So I
do need everybody's help to make that dream come true.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Yes, yes, it's kind of like the song I Will survive. Well,
you look at it that way too, But then again,
things do have a way of working out, Alison, And
as you know too, everybody has days for things don't
called right. But you have to tell yourself it will,
it will pass, We'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yes, it always does. In the bad times, you have
to remember how things worked out and they were good
at another time.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
But it's hard.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It's very hard.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
In fact, I always try to remind people too that
you know, don't don't look at don't look at things
that have gone wrong. Try to look at the positive
of things. They can go right and it will go right.
But ex up to you as an individual to have
the positive attitude.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
And it's difficult. Those intrusive thoughts may come in and
they may bring you down, but you got to pull
yourself out of that money pit. Absolutely get stuck there. Yes,
not a good place to be, is it.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Not at all? But then again that's what I always
try to swift to people, you know, think positive.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yes, yes, people can make donations, maybe they could volunteer again,
they could go to Vending for Change dot org to
do any of that.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Absolutely, we would love all your support and we can't
think enough to not only you guys hear at iHeart
think you, thank you, thank you for having us, but
also our supporters that have already helped us along the
way and continue to fight along our side. So thank you.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Kelly, what would you like to see happen? And Mike
what would you like to see happen in the next
year or two?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Concerning this, hoping everything goes as well as it does,
making necessary improvements. Of course, there's always room for improvement
in life as we go along, as we know, but
then again, just trying to make things better and in
whichever way we can, and I'm sure that's going to
happen Kelly, and.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
More community awareness about Mark Inc. Of Manchester and of
course Vending for Change where your change supports change and
to employ more people with disabilities and really see the
snack box business flourish that I truly believe that it
can because I think it can be a lot of
fun and you can feel good about this. I know
(14:53):
that my ideas and of purchasing us knack Box, whether
it's a one off or even going into a subscription,
we were the intentions of not only employing people with disabilities,
but also to feed those in needs. So well. I
also have a pro an opportunity where if you wanted
(15:15):
to do a subscription and you want to do it
to whether it's your every week or every other week,
really to whatever you're interested in. We could say, for example,
that week one we drop off Box one, Week two
we drop off the second box, and any leftovers in
(15:35):
Box one, you have the two options of either keeping
that box or the contents like the spicy Doritos, it's
never again the Snickers bar because that never is left over.
And also we have we will then take the leftovers
of whatever you're not interested and then we'll donate it
(15:56):
to mac charity. So not only are you employing people
with disabilities, but you're also feeding people in need. So
That's what I'm looking to do, is just helping out
our community and always.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Well, the two of you just lit up the entire
radio station today when you walked in. I mean you
literally walked in and everybody was like, Hi, who are you?
You know you just your heart's are just glow and
it's just a blessing to be around the both of you.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
And I can't say Alison how nice it is to
meet you, and to meet you a fact that as
well listening to you, listening to you for many years,
and of course, as I mentioned to you at the beginning,
of course your days with Alan and Mike, so.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yes, thank you so much for that. You made my day.
You truly did, the both of you. I'm speaking with
Mike Robinson, person served at Mark Inc. Of Manchester and
Kelly Ray, vending facilitator at Vending for Change again. It's
vendingfor Change dot org. Get those vending machines, get those
snack boxes and help make people's lives better. Thank you
(16:59):
both for being here to day.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Thank you so much for making this dream come true.
Good morning, Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest today is Kelly Ray, she's a vending facilitator at
Vending for Change. And also Mike Robinson, he's a person
served at Mark Inc. Of Manchester. Good morning, Good morning,
good morning. Vending for Change is dedicated to empowering individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities. How did Vending for Change
(00:24):
come about?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Mark has been doing vending services for years and we
received a grant to start a micro business and Vending
for Change then blossomed in around twenty nineteen. Vending for
Change an entity of Mark Inc. Of Manchester where our
people served own and operate their own vending machine company.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
And for people who don't know about Mark Maarc, what
is it?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
We're a nonprofit located in Manchester. We provide opportunities for
individuals with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So Mark Inc. And Vending for Change are connected to
each other and they do all of this amazing work together.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Correct. So we in Mark Inc. Of Manchester, we provide
several opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout different programs of
dso with work. We have day programs, Shannon's Place, residential
employment services. So when we received this grant back in
twenty nineteen, Mark saw this initiative for our people served
(01:26):
to own and operate their own vending machine company. We're
not there yet and that's one of our goals to
be freestanding and having our own company essentially.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
So tell me how people served are involved in vending
for change, what do they do?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
So we have a crew about five people served people
with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities, and we have about
two staff and I oversee the entire company with of
course addition of help from our finance office and from
Mark and the support of Mark Inc. Of Manchester. We
have a variety of sites. We're also starting a snack
(02:05):
box business to and with the intentions of employing more
people with disabilities and really just trying to grow the
business and most importantly community awareness.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
So the vending machines will actually help people with disabilities
and the community.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Correct our people will. We have our own a area
where we have over one hundred products to choose from.
We have about thirteen sites over twenty five vending machines.
We partner with Coca Cola and our crew goes to
select the items that are needed for those vending machines,
(02:43):
they package them, they carry it out, they restock the machines,
and then they come back. And we also have partners
with food Share and mac Charities in addition to.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
What kind of things are in the vending machines, all.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Wonderful tasty treats. So if you ever need that three
o'clock pick me up, it's always there. You can never
say no to a Snicker, so every machine has a
Snickers bar guaranteed. We have dry goods, candies, chips, even
things along the lines of gluten free and for that
healthy snackers. We even have beef jerky. So we have
(03:20):
dry goods and candies.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
But you do snack boxes as well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, when I came on board with Vending for Change
back in twenty one, I needed to learn the vending
business because it was new to me, and I had
this vision, how can I help other people and more
people get employed and how would we be able to
attract those smaller businesses in addition to personal purchases as well.
(03:45):
So I created this snack box business and for over
the next several years, we've a few years now we've
cultivated that and we're just trying to take off with it.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So I know that you have your face favorite boxes
for Mary, Jimmy and Billy, but Mike is here. Mike,
how do we not have a favorite box from you?
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I guess one wasn't selective, but I'm sure I can.
I can get one at a time as well. Let
me use said that I'm I'm also in our administrative
offices Mark and Mark as a receptionist and uh and
the person that that is administer administrative as well.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yes, take me through your day when you go to work.
What's it like for you.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Going on the secret going into how great people in
the office such as Mike, our office managers to high
right Mike, coworker, Lizzie and any any way I can
be helpful at Mark, I might as too well said
that when I started in Mark years ago, Mark was
coming to Mark was in a show what they call
a shelter works stopping stop environment where we had a
(04:50):
lot of piece work donated by one of the factories
in Manchester. But then again, people there weren't many people
working in the in the outside as far as employ iman. Now,
if you said that the people's like it can't be done,
it can it can be done, But people have to
come and see Mark, to really appreciate and get an
idea as to what we're all about.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Tell me what has it done for you working there?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
It has blessed my life. It's a place to go
during the daytime to see, to keep myself busy, and
to be with great people as Kelly and everybody in
the office and just all around Mark all together.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
What are your hours like? Did you used to work
more hours? Less hours?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I pretty much pretty much we'rek gate to two. I
have never really done more hours up, but I was
when I was working in a Mark. In the beginning,
I worked at other sites. I worked at Pisa Hut
going to play coupons on doors. I worked at Jenny,
I worked one of the bank we had two bakery
outlets in Manchester, and then before I was working at
(05:53):
one of the banks in Manchester doing the same thing
I do in our administrative office, but they eliminated the position.
So here I am at Mark doing what I love
doing is taking calls and helping people.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
How nice. What would you say to somebody listening who
may want to go work there?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You can't find a better place. Everybody is always so friendly,
helpful in any way they can be.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
What do you think about the vending machines and the
snack boxes helping people?
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I think it's a great idea. And as we grow,
as we go on and on and on, I know
Kelly and other people will come up with more ideas
to kind of help that advancement more.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
We started to talk about the specialty boxes and the
snack boxes, and we have the favorite boxes of Mary,
Jimmy and Billy. They have their favorites. Are those your
friends by any chance, Mike?
Speaker 3 (06:42):
They are? They are? In fact, I have a lot
of friends at Mark. But then again they're great people
as always as everybody as in Mark, and such a
pleasure to go win each day and be as helpful
as I can.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So, Kelly, maybe you want to tell me what's the
difference between Mary, Jimmy and Billy's favorite snap boxes?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Do you have in an l Actually, the idea of
our favorites is I wanted to highlight a person from
each program. So Jimmy is with our residential program and
Billy is our from our das from our employment. And
(07:21):
we have more to come with more favorites to add.
And don't you worry, Mike, I have you coming up
with our ad representing our admin team for your favorite.
So don't worry, I didn't leave you.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Sorry. I wasn't trying to cause I didn't mean to
cause trouble.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
No, I have a lot more work to do, so
I'm super very I'm very excited to highlight and then
inside each box, I also wanted to spotlight a person
serves per month, so you may not be so you
may not see them face to face, but then you
can see that you are actually helping out that particular
(08:00):
person and you can see the face that you are
changing and helping and support oh with each person.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
How nice is that the snack boxes can be specialty
boxes as well. Today you brought me an Easter one. Yes,
I love it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yes, inside each specialty box, each one is different. We
have Valentine Saint Patrick's super Bowl, Going to the Dogs
where we partnered with Leaps and Bones where they actually
make dog treats, so there's going to be one for that,
and we have It's just endless cramming for exams for
(08:36):
your kids, so that's the just for fun one. We
have Easter, and of course we have March Madness. So
I wasn't sure if you're a basketball fan or not,
so I just went with Easter.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well, I love it. My daughter was at Western, and
that's what I would do. It was a box just
like this. The outside would be decorative and then she
would open it up and all of her snacks would
be in there. It's wonderful. What is the cost for
something like that.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Regular size? It's about twenty four ninety nine for and
it's about sixteen items or so. And that's just for
a regular snack box. For a specialty one, you just
add five dollars. We also do larger size boxes for
thirty nine ninety nine and again that doesn't include tax.
And then for any any of your favorites, you can
(09:21):
also upgrade to a specialty for additional five dollars.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Take me through the process from production to delivery, what happens.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
So you can certainly call in and listen to our
lovely Mike, who's been with Mark for fifty five years,
so he's the legend.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Well you know, well, in fact, when I again when
I started with Mark years ago, back in sixty nine,
as to say, as I said, we were we were
just coming out of a workstop environment back then. So therefore,
if you were to mention the people about working on
the out side. You might be it can't happen, but
(10:00):
it has happened. It has happened, and you have to
really see it to really enjoy what crewise do we
have out there that are in the community.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But Mike, you don't look fifty five like could you be?
I mean, God, bless you, well, thank you, You're welcome,
you were saying, Kelly.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
So you can either call into Mark Ink of Manchester
and speak to the legend Mike Robinson, or you can
go online to vending Change vending for change dot org
and you have your choices of picking out one of
our already pre selected of our favorites, or you can
select one of your favorites where you can actually build
your own box. So if you have that fun gag
(10:41):
gift that you want to give to a friend and
fill it up with nothing but cheetos, we can do
that and accommodate that. Or you can also do a
specialty box and our crew I would receive the order.
I would then pass it along to our vending crew.
They would then fill the box. In addition to that,
I had the vision to with the idea of employing
(11:02):
more people with disabilities when we are expanding, and we
will get there, because I'm very passionate about this, that
we would hire people with disabilities to build the boxes.
I would hire somebody that maybe in a wheelchair, would
do the shredding and the filling of the snack box.
Our vending crew would then fill it, and then once
(11:23):
that is done, we would then let you know that
when it's ready and you can swing by and pick
it up and meet some of our wonderful individuals that
created this box. And you're also with that, you're also supporting.
In addition to that, we can also do delivery, where
we would also hire somebody who maybe is a one
(11:44):
to one where they may not have the capabilities of
working out in the community, but they have they don't
mind going to a business or maybe at dropping off
a snack box at your house, and that employs that person.
So it's really an intense to not only bring community
awareness but also employ more people.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Kelly, does your boss know how good you are?
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Like?
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Does he have any idea? Like how your heart is
so into this and you eat, sleep, breathe and think
how else can I help people? Well, how can we
make this better. Does he have or she have a clue?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
He does the poor thing he does. I'm a very
emotional person, so he he knows when he disappoints me,
or or he knows how excited I am and how
passionate I am. And I did say just the other
day under my breath, this program will survive. So I
do need everybody's help to make that dream come true.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Yes, yes, it's kind of like the song I Will survive. Well,
you look at it that way too, But then again,
things do have a way of working out, Alison, And
as you know too, everybody has days for things don't
called right. But you have to tell yourself it will,
it will pass, We'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yes, it always does. In the bad times, you have
to remember how things worked out and they were good
at another time.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
But it's hard.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It's very hard.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
In fact, I always try to remind people too that
you know, don't don't look at don't look at things
that have gone wrong. Try to look at the positive
of things. They can go right and it will go right.
But ex up to you as an individual to have
the positive attitude.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
And it's difficult. Those intrusive thoughts may come in and
they may bring you down, but you got to pull
yourself out of that money pit. Absolutely get stuck there. Yes,
not a good place to be, is it.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Not at all? But then again that's what I always
try to swift to people, you know, think positive.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yes, yes, people can make donations, maybe they could volunteer again,
they could go to Vending for Change dot org to
do any of that.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Absolutely, we would love all your support and we can't
think enough to not only you guys hear at iHeart
think you, thank you, thank you for having us, but
also our supporters that have already helped us along the
way and continue to fight along our side. So thank you.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Kelly, what would you like to see happen? And Mike
what would you like to see happen in the next
year or two?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Concerning this, hoping everything goes as well as it does,
making necessary improvements. Of course, there's always room for improvement
in life as we go along, as we know, but
then again, just trying to make things better and in
whichever way we can, and I'm sure that's going to
happen Kelly, and.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
More community awareness about Mark Inc. Of Manchester and of
course Vending for Change where your change supports change and
to employ more people with disabilities and really see the
snack box business flourish that I truly believe that it
can because I think it can be a lot of
fun and you can feel good about this. I know
(14:53):
that my ideas and of purchasing us knack Box, whether
it's a one off or even going into a subscription,
we were the intentions of not only employing people with disabilities,
but also to feed those in needs. So well. I
also have a pro an opportunity where if you wanted
(15:15):
to do a subscription and you want to do it
to whether it's your every week or every other week,
really to whatever you're interested in. We could say, for example,
that week one we drop off Box one, Week two
we drop off the second box, and any leftovers in
(15:35):
Box one, you have the two options of either keeping
that box or the contents like the spicy Doritos, it's
never again the Snickers bar because that never is left over.
And also we have we will then take the leftovers
of whatever you're not interested and then we'll donate it
(15:56):
to mac charity. So not only are you employing people
with disabilities, but you're also feeding people in need. So
That's what I'm looking to do, is just helping out
our community and always.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Well, the two of you just lit up the entire
radio station today when you walked in. I mean you
literally walked in and everybody was like, Hi, who are you?
You know you just your heart's are just glow and
it's just a blessing to be around the both of you.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
And I can't say Alison how nice it is to
meet you, and to meet you a fact that as
well listening to you, listening to you for many years,
and of course, as I mentioned to you at the beginning,
of course your days with Alan and Mike, so.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yes, thank you so much for that. You made my day.
You truly did, the both of you. I'm speaking with
Mike Robinson, person served at Mark Inc. Of Manchester and
Kelly Ray, vending facilitator at Vending for Change again. It's
vendingfor Change dot org. Get those vending machines, get those
snack boxes and help make people's lives better. Thank you
(16:59):
both for being here to day.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Thank you so much for making this dream come true.
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