Jeanne Inglese proudly calls The One Stop Gift Shop her store. Jeanne takes great pride in her role—completing inventory checks, assisting with displays, and connecting with customers—supported every step of the way by Anne Giaramita, Store Manager and DSP.

“I love Anne. The best is helping the customers out and wrapping,” said Jeanne, who has interned at The One Stop Gift Shop for years.

Now a mentor, Jeanne Inglese appreciates the opportunity to share what she’s learned with fellow interns at The One Stop Gift Shop. Recently, Jeanne sat down with fellow intern Desiree Mitchem to help with folding, counting, and how to tie the signature One Stop Gift Shop bow that completes every sale.

Approximately every six months, four people are chosen from a waitlist of eager applicants from AHRC Day Services to embark on the Gift Shop’s internship program.

The current cycle’s interns also include Cathy Fox and Melina Langley. Together, they learn everything about the running of a shop from ordering inventory, pricing, and stocking. Most importantly, they receive plenty of practice interacting with customers at the shop’s location in Hicksville, and when they roll out their mobile shop.

Established in 2017, the One Stop Gift Shop was created to provide mentorship and skill development for people supported by AHRC Day Services in an interactive community setting. There, they sell seasonal goods and gifts, along with popular items such as sweatshirts, hats, and mugs. With every sale, people with developmental disabilities are supported to learn and share their skills, while dollars are also invested in local organizations strengthening the fabric of the community. Recent One Stop donations include the American Heart Association, the Long Island Crisis Center, and the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition.

Along with the interns and Anne, the shop is supported by Amy Yeung, Activity Specialist, and Brooke Gillman, Assistant Director of Day Services. Amy seamlessly blends community engagement with the gift shop and activities for people in Day Services.

“The interns love engaging with customers, especially at the pop-up shop events. These experiences are particularly meaningful because they often see familiar faces, which helps them feel valued, recognized, and proud of their contributions,” said Amy.

Since Brooke pioneered the shop’s vision all those years ago, the shop has contributed $6,000 to the community and helped dozens of people develop essential real-world skills.

“I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and continue to create at the One Stop Gift Shop. Our initial goal was to create a community-based gift shop that created a real-life learning experience for the people who benefit from our services,” said Brooke.

Visit the One Stop Gift Shop online today and support this special initiative.