GE Aviation, Birdie Thornton team up to help Puerto Rico
Published 6:30 am Wednesday, October 25, 2017
- Gayla Henderson, a lead production quality specialist at GE Aviation, helps Tyrone Coleman pack snacks into a care package bound for Puerto Rico, where they will be distributed to employees at the company's sister factory.
The faces of Birdie Thornton clients lit up as GE Aviation Plant Leader John Lyford explained to the group that they were going to get to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Birdie Thornton clients and GE employees paired up to pack diapers, deodorant, toothpaste, soap and even storybooks into gallon-size baggies that would eventually find their way to workers at GE’s sister plant in Puerto Rico.
“This gave us the perfect opportunity to get involved in the community and help out our plant in Puerto Rico,” Kate Szyszka, human resources manager for GE Aviation, said.
This is GE Aviation’s second community outreach project. They recently became members of the United Way of Athens-Limestone County.
“Volunteerism is one of the pillars of GE, and this team is clearly passionate about getting involved with their community,” Szyszka said. “I anticipate we will continue to work with Birdie Thornton, either as a team or individually.”
Birdie Thornton Program Director Kristy Allen is always glad to see new companies like GE Aviation getting involved with the center.
“It is always nice to have new partners because the people who come here love to do things like this,” Allen said. “They are always excited to meet new people.”
GE Aviation broke ground in Huntsville-annexed Limestone County earlier this year to build a facility that will manufacture ceramic materials for use in jet engines. The company expects to employ 300 people once up and running.
The Birdie Thornton Center is a day program for adults who have been diagnosed with an intellectual disability.