Menomonie (WQOW)- A local
organization that works to empower and employ those with down syndrome recently hired on a new employee to help
manage it's online store.
Jacob Lemke, from Chippewa Falls, is the team manager for Chi Hi's football program, the reigning high school prom king and he
can now add staff member to that list. He is the first employee at the down
syndrome footprint store.
"He's so sweet. He
smiles constantly it's almost infectious. You know you can't help but not smile
when you're around him and he's always giggling," said Stavroula Marcell, Down Syndrome Footprint store.
In addition to his infectious
smile and laughter he's also a hard worker.
"He stays on task
and does everything that we ask. So he's great, we couldn't of asked for a
better first employee," added Marcell.
The down syndrome footprint store
can be found online. It features merchandise that raises awareness about down
syndrome while creating job opportunities. Everything that is sold is either
made or packaged by someone with down syndrome.
"When Jacob comes
in we have him help us tag the items and then also bag them and then he helps us with the storage of it," said Marcell.
All of the items sold online have a
signature symbol on them.
"We always have the
footprint in some fashion on all of our products," said Marcell.
A footprint is one indicator that an
infant may have down syndrome. The footprint is unique because of the extra
space between the first two toes.
"They're wonderful
people. They're very friendly and sweet and nice and they're just like
everybody else. And just because they have a disability doesn't mean that they
can't still be productive and function in society with everyone," said Marcell.
