1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, Welcome to Story Behind podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 2: After being diagnosed with autism at three, one man is 7 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: following his dreams and inspiring others Written by Heather Rigomanard 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: by Julie Provost. After being diagnosed with autism at age three, 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 2: One man is following his dreams and inspiring others. When 10 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: George Lynn was a mere toddler, doctors gave him a 11 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: diagnosis that could have written the story of his life 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: before he even had a chance to hold the pen. 13 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 2: But George refused to let that label limit him. More 14 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: than two decades later, he's living proof that perseverance and 15 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 2: a bit of grace can turn what once felt impossible 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: into something beautiful. The past decade, George has worked as 17 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 2: a pharmacy delivery driver at Wegmans in Mount Laurel, JO. 18 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: He calls his dream every shift. He shows up with 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 2: quiet purpose, reminding those around him the determination and heart 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: can open doors that labels try to close. I can 21 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 2: do more I want to work in the pharmacy department. 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 3: George said. He started in an entry level. 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: Position at the supermarket and worked his way up step 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 2: by step. His opportunity arose through the Arc of Camden, 25 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 2: an organization that assists individuals with develop must disabilities in 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: finding meaningful employment and advocating for themselves. After a while, 27 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: George said, I can do more. I want to work 28 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: in the pharmacy department, shared Jessica Scott, the director of 29 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: employment services at the Ark of Camden, so he ended 30 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: up helping him advocate for a higher role. They taught 31 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 2: me how to follow through like with management, to make 32 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: sure I was able to get the job. George said, 33 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 2: I was so grateful. Wegman's store manager Todd Allen said 34 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: what so many have witnessed firsthand. We hire people for 35 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 2: their heart. The training is easy. You can teach them 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: the technical parts of what they do. There's something for everyone. 37 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: George now travels to speak about early intervention, support, employment 38 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: and what it means to belong. His voice cares the 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: kind of quiet strength that only grows through perseverance and 40 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: pai autism does not stop you. George said, because what 41 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: Arc of Camden County does for these people with disabilities 42 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: is they make you feel like you're part of society 43 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: and not secluded. 44 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: They want to make you feel included. 45 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 2: As a mom of two kids on the spectrum, this 46 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 2: story feels like sunlight breaking through the clouds. George's life 47 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 2: reminds us that the world is brighter when we make 48 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: room for every person to. 49 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 3: Bring their gifts to the table. 50 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: No diagnosis can define what God has already designed Ephesians 51 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 2: two ten. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created 52 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do 53 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: good things He planned for us long ago. He's ninety eight, 54 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: a World War two vet and finds joy working at 55 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: Loew's three days a week. Written by MICHAELA. Gordoni, read 56 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 2: by Juli Provost. He might think a World War two 57 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: vet would be resting at home or making prehiom visits 58 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: to the doctor, But one special New York World War 59 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 2: two veteran works at Low's three days a week. The 60 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: ninety eight year old Ron Givens is very satisfied with 61 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: this arrangement. She works three six hour ships at Low's 62 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 2: in Ulster, New York, each week. The vet, affectionately known 63 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: as mister Ron has worked there for the past seventeen years. 64 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: When I was drafted out of high school, the war 65 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: in Europe just ended. They didn't know what to do 66 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 2: with a large number of people who had just been inducted, 67 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 2: he shares. I went to boot camp and after completing 68 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: boot camp, I was assigned to a ship's company for 69 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: three months. He was drafted while in high school and 70 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: never got his diploma. He was stationed on the us 71 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 2: S Hornet CV twelve, one of the first ships to 72 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 2: launch at tacks after Pearl Harbor outside of San Francisco. 73 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 2: I finally got on the Hornet. 74 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 3: For six months. 75 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: I didn't see any action at all, and thank heavens 76 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: for that. Ron said, it was a good experience. Service 77 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: teaches you many things that you don't learn on the outside. 78 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: After the war, he attended college for two years and 79 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: worked at General elect Later, after being laid off, he 80 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: joined IBM, where he worked for thirty five years. He 81 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: couldn't sit still after retirement, so he did odd jobs 82 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: and started a part time lawn business, and some friends 83 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: suggested that he joined Lows. He did and never left. 84 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: His motto is you rest, you rest, so he gets 85 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: up every day at five am. He loves working in 86 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: Low's Garden Center, where he likes to interact with customers 87 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: and employees. I enjoy meeting people, and that's a big 88 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: part of why I staged here is because the people 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: are so great to work with, Ron said. When I 90 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: first joined here, they were so helpful and anything I 91 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: wanted or needed, they were there. It's a compliment to 92 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 2: the staff and the management and the department that I 93 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: worked in in Oliver Lows. I keep coming back to 94 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 2: work because I've seen so many people who retired that 95 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: don't do. 96 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 3: Anything and they waste away. He said. 97 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 2: This gives me the opportunity to keep my mind active 98 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: and keep doing physical activity and doing something I like 99 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: working with people and enjoy what I'm doing. His favorite 100 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: parts of his job are working with the customer and 101 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: working with the people that I work with. It makes 102 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: the job easier, and working with the employees to help 103 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: sell more things and to keep myself back and to 104 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: work with the people. He adds, I enjoy the customers. 105 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: I directed barbershop quartets for thirty years and so I 106 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: know crowds and enjoy people. Regular customers come looking for 107 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: mister Ron. Two months ago. I was in a conversation 108 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 2: with a couple and we were both in the Navy. 109 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 2: And a month later he came back and he gave 110 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 2: me a model of an aircraft carrier that he built. 111 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: It's really fantastic. Ron said, he always finds a way 112 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: to stay busy. I work around the house and outside. 113 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: In the winter time, I work down in the basement. 114 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 3: I have a lot of tools. I have a lot 115 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 3: of woodworking work. He shares. 116 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 2: He got his worth, ethic, and personality from his mother 117 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: and father. His father worked until he was eighty, and 118 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: his mother was a people person. Ron's work is important, 119 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: but the real lights of his life or his family. 120 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 2: He's been married to his wife for sixty seven years. 121 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: He had to take every day that the sun's going 122 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 2: to come up, and you have to be ready. Whether 123 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: it's sunny, cloudy, or a gut punch. We've had them all, 124 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: he said of his marriage. They have four kids, ten grandkids, 125 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 2: and ten great grandkids. Ron and other veterans, including a 126 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 2: nephew who was in the National Guard, were honored at 127 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: Lows on Veterans Day, one of the best days ever. 128 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: Ron said, what are you going to do? You reach 129 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: one hundred, Ron says, people ask him, I said, well, 130 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 2: get new teeth and wear a diaper, he jokes. Ron 131 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 2: is an excellent example of a hard bringing person. His 132 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: drive to work and live keeps him going and staying strong. 133 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 3: What an inspiration. 134 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 135 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 136 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 137 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 138 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 139 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 140 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 141 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: a review. 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