Imagine! Success Story

Occasionally we like to share success stories from some of the people we serve at Imagine!. It is a great way to demonstrate the powerful impact supporting the Imagine! Foundation can have on some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

Today, enjoy this story about Tye McCarthy:

Tye McCarthy’s success goes far beyond his productivity at his job. Tye rolls silverware in napkins at Rock Bottom Restaurant as a member of a work crew with Labor Source, the vocational component of Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department.

“Tye is interacting more frequently and with increased verbiage and clarity with his coworkers, staff members, and community members,” Marsha Robichaux, an Employment Specialist with Labor Source, told us. “He is not just more aware of others; he is looking out for them. He lets his coworkers know that he looks forward to seeing them, and that he likes working with them. Tye’s presence is noticeable, he is there and you know it. The great thing about that is if you’re not invisible to others, you’re not invisible to yourself. Tye’s success is far past encouraging.”

Tye’s parents, Dan and Nancy McCarthy, shared with us, “We have been very pleased with the progress that Tye has made with Labor Source. The staff has been excellent in helping Tye with his work and increasing his skills. They get the best out of him and he feels good about his job. He enjoys his co-workers and the staff is the best. Tye is always telling friends and anyone that he meets, that he rolls silverware at Rock Bottom and is very proud of it. Special thanks to Labor Source for doing such a good job and to Rock Bottom for providing the opportunity for employment.”

Tom Boller, an Employment Specialist with Labor Source, said, “Tye McCarthy has been working with crews in Labor Source for a couple of years. He tried several different jobs before settling into his job at Rock Bottom, and he is really growing into the job! The quality of his work is very good and his production on a daily basis continues to increase. Tye works three days each week, and his crew members see him as a valuable member of the team. They appreciate his greetings at the start of the day and his willingness to assist them in ways that show he is a real gentleman.

“Tye stays focused on his work and there are times when you might think that he isn't paying attention to anyone or anything around him,” Tom added. “Then, Tye responds to someone's humor with his infectious laughter and you know he is paying attention to his environment. He is simply committed to his work. Tye leaves the worksite saying to the restaurant staff, ‘See you tomorrow,’ which lets them and all know he enjoys and is committed to his job.”

Tye has recently added an afternoon of work at the Outback restaurant in Louisville where he also rolls silverware in napkins. The new site adds an extra fork to the roll and asks for a very high quality of work. Tye has stepped up to the challenge of meeting those high standards with a smile and ease.