When opportunity knocks unexpectedly, it can change lives. That is exactly what happened when Independence360 and nourish.NJ formed a partnership that not only empowers adults on the spectrum but also strengthens the local community.

It all started with Rosscie Myers, an Employment Specialist from Independence360. He was in search of opportunities for an I360 client to gain new skills when he came across nourish.NJ.

“I was just driving around Morristown, looking for places for our adults to work and I thought, ‘Oh, let me just check this place out and see what they do,’” Rosscie recalls. Investigating further, he discovered a community organization with a 40-year legacy of addressing hunger, homelessness and poverty by providing fresh meals, housing, medical care and more—all free of charge. In 1984, nourish.NJ opened the doors of its Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center and has grown to a nonprofit that is annually providing over 300,000 meals and around 600,000 pounds of food to the local communities in Dover and Morristown.

Becoming acquainted with nourish.NJ and its Director of Volunteer Services, Heidi Griffee, turned out to be a game-changer for the Independence360 organization.

“Heidi was glad to listen to my pitch and willing to give us a chance,” Rosscie explains, “and the relationship just blossomed from there.” Today, six adults from Independence360 are currently volunteering at nourish.NJ.

Rosscie and his supervisor, Meg Luis, Manager of Career Development, are frequently on site at nourish.NJ’s two locations in Morristown and Dover. “I’m there about three days per week, and Meg goes two to three days per week as well,” Rosscie says. Their regular presence ensures that I360 client volunteers not only support nourish’s daily operations but also become an integral part of its community.

Heidi explains, “We truly see our Spectrum360 [Independence360] volunteers as part of our staff—they’re on the schedule, we see them walking in, and it reassures us that everything is covered for the day.”

Preparation is essential for a successful volunteer experience. Rosscie describes how he spends time with clients discussing their responsibilities and adjusting routines based on schedule requirements. “We talk one-on-one on the way to the day’s location and set expectations,” he shares. This careful planning ensures a smooth experience, even when unexpected issues arise, such as when a recent snowstorm cut work shifts short. To prepare their staff for working with the volunteers, nourish.NJ brought an occupational therapist on site to discuss neurodivergence, how to interact with those on the spectrum and how to help if issues arose.

But beyond the logistics, the partnership of Independence360 and nourish.NJ is filled with moments of personal growth and genuine connection. Rosscie is proud of how clients quickly learn to perform tasks independently, often needing just minimal prompting or a motivational high five.

“I’ve seen an impact on [their] skills—even using a knife or doing all aspects of the job—where they learn to perform tasks on their own,” he explains. Heidi adds, “It’s the anticipation of knowing exactly what tasks are ahead—getting the right tools, lining up carts and knowing your responsibilities. I recall Alex, who after his first day knew exactly where everything was and didn’t need anyone’s help.”

As nourish.NJ prepares for the future, with plans to expand their reach to new communities, both organizations are filled with optimism.

This inspiring collaboration shows that when communities come together—with open hearts and a willingness to give a chance—the results are transformative, not only for those directly involved but for the entire community.

To learn more about this partnership and see the impact in action, visit nourishnj.org and check them out on Instagram at @nourish.nj. If you are interested in learning more about supporting employment for adults with autism, please contact Meg Luis at mluis@spectrum360.org.