We recently talked with Gerald (Jerry) Lemaster, who has been a Jewish Family Service (JFS) Disability Services client since 1977, to learn more about his 44-year journey with the program. JFS’s Disability Services provides on-the-job training, vocational skill development, and real-world work experience to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program has evolved over the years, but the commitment to person-centered programs and individualized choice has not changed.

Learn more about Jerry’s experiences:

JFS: Why did you first come to JFS in 1977?
Jerry: I heard about JFS from my doctor after I started having seizures. My doctor thought JFS would offer programs to keep me busy and help me feel involved and part of the community. 

JFS: What kinds of jobs have you done in the last 44 years?
Jerry: I’ve done a lot of different jobs! I heat sealed Alcohol Monitoring Systems kits while others added parts and labels, heat sealed pads of paper, cut and sewed fabric swatches, collated a magazine that JFS produced for the Girl Scouts, and worked on other mailing projects.

JFS: What have some of your favorite jobs been?
Jerry: I liked being in the mail room at Xcel Energy for 25 years zip coding. I also enjoy heat sealing at JFS’s SHALOM Denver work site. My real area of expertise is in quality control (QC). I have overseen the QC of many jobs and trained others. I have also trained other clients to heat seal. I love to help others! When I’m working on projects, I am just one cog in a well-oiled machine. I am proud that I was awarded Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year.

JFS: What do you like best about going to SHALOM Denver?
Jerry: SHALOM and JFS is like a small family, a place where I feel comfortable, and everyone is helpful. I can always ask for help when I need it. The people all get along and are motivating. When the work site was closed last year because of COVID, I got to talk to the staff on the phone. I am happy to be back at work again!  

JFS: Do you have any special memories or stories to share?
Jerry: Years ago, I had the job of making shorts. I put my name on a tag and then attached them to the shorts. The director and I took the shorts to the People’s Fair in downtown Denver to sell. One customer tried on 10 pairs but found something wrong with all of them. He finally picked a pair I made. I told the customer that if he found anything wrong with the shorts, he could have two pairs. This did not make the director happy, but I was so confident that the shorts I made were perfect. I was right, the customer did not find anything wrong with them and bought the pair I made because I am so good at quality control!

Learn more about our programs for people with disabilities and consider making a donation to help others like Jerry.

Did you benefit from a JFS program or service? We’d love to hear from you. Share your story!