Since 2004, Community Catering has been offering people with developmental disabilities employment and inclusion in their communities.

The program began as a training opportunity, giving people with developmental disabilities a chance to learn cooking skills. From there it grew into a full-service catering business.

Based in Milton, the group caters at least two dozen events a year in the surrounding communities. Most importantly, it teaches people with developmental disabilities new skills and increases their community interaction, with the ultimate goal of helping them progress to a permanent job.

Community Catering employees get hands-on lessons in food preparation and clean-up, nutrition and food safety. Beyond kitchen skills, participants also develop social skills, learn to work in teams, build self-confidence, learn responsibility and become valued members of their community.

"We were packing up one evening after an event when one of our employees turned to me and said, 'Doesn't it make you feel good at the end of the day to know you've done a good job?' — that, to me, is what it's all about," says organizer Charlene Bredahl.

All proceeds from Community Catering activities support recreation and leisure programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities through Community Living North Halton.

For more information about Community Catering, please contact Charlene Bredahl at 905-702-8135.