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OGDEN — A group of employees who know a thing or two about challenges are scrambling to find permanent work after their paper shredding facility was destroyed by a fire last Friday.
The warehouse, located at 2437 Rulon White Boulevard, is run by EnableUtah. It’s a nonprofit that provides jobs, training, and employment services to adults with disabilities.
“We help people that have physical disabilities — blindness and deafness — to people that have more cognitive disabilities,” said Gavin Hutchinson, president of EnableUtah.
Hutchinson said for many of the workers, these small jobs are their only means of income.
“It gives them an opportunity to have disposable income,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to help support their families as they've had issues that may have impacted their ability to have what we consider a normal job in the community.”
Abbie Nelson has worked with EnableUtah for 10 years and said it is sad to see her workplace damaged.
“It was hard on me. It was just sad, really sad,” she said.
For now, Nelson and nine other employees are working limited shifts at the nonprofit’s sister facility, also in Ogden. Hutchinson said paying them will prove hard to do after next week.
"While they still may be employed, they will be more underemployed and won't be receiving the same wages that they need to (be receiving),” he said.
EnableUtah received donations to go towards paying the employees but those won't last long. Hutchinson is turning to businesses in the community for support.
"If any employers had the opportunity or feels the need that they can employ an individual that has a disability, please reach out to us,” he said.
For more information on EnableUtah, click here.
