Jillana Kypreos works on computer orders at McCombs Supply. 

Jillana Kypreos stacks the paper work in three piles, all sorted by data on the bills. 

She thanks the office accountant at McCombs Supply several times for allowing her to do the task and moves on to her next job, updating files and working with orders on the computer.

Kypreos, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania enjoys the new responsibilities, which are part of her evaluation by United Disabilities Services. 

Melissa Barto, a vocational counselor at UDS of Lancaster, is doing an assessment on Kypreos. Barto said her office gets individuals referred to UDS from the office of Vocational Rehabilitation. 

"We work with adults with mild disabilities and find employment and establish their Independence," says Barto, whose background is in special education. "We meet with them and assess their strengths, needs and interests and what is the best type of engagement for them. What (job) best suits their needs."

That's where companies like McCombs , a replacement appliance parts business in Lancaster, comes in [See related story on former UDS employee retiring from McCombs]. UDS asks McCombs if individuals can come in and perform clerical work, as well as work on computers or pack parts. 

The extra hands in the office is also beneficial to McCombs, which has hired some of these individuals after doing assessments as packers in the shipping department or for picking orders and data entry.   

"Any time we can help UDS with evaluations it is beneficial to UDS and it helps McCombs Supply as well," Ken McCombs III, vice president at McCombs Supply, says. "It is also a service to the community."

McCombs Supply, which has been honored by UDS in the past year for its work in the community, has done job shadowing with students from the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 [See story] and meet with Occupational Development [See related story] 

Typically, the assessment on three different area lasts about three hours, and Barto says the process for each person is different.

After a few hours at McCombs on Nov. 2, Barto gained a good assessment of Kypreo's skill level. 

"This gives me a chance to see what she can do and place her," says Barto, who works with about 10-15 clients. "Currently, she is working at McDonalds and the work is too easy for her. She needs something more challenging."

Barto says UDS is always looking to partner with more businesses to help with assessments and job placement. 

"We have a couple of places that are just awesome to work with us," Barto says. "McCombs is great. BJ's Wholesale, Franklin & Marshall College, and TJ Max are helpful."

Here is a link to the Job Shadowing story. 

Here is a link to the Occupational Development story

About Us

McCombs Supply Company, Inc.

In business since 1953, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business that specializes in low prices and fast, reliable shipping.
Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, McCombs Supply Co., Inc. offers replacement repair parts for dishwashers, dryers, microwaves, range-ovens, refrigerators, washing machines, HVAC, commercial refrigeration, commercial cooking, pellet stove parts and more. Some of our manufacturers we distribute for include – Backer-Chromolox, Broan-Nutone, Exact Replacement Parts (ERP), EZ Flo, Fasco, Mastercool, ICM, JW Harris, Packard, Robertshaw, Sealed Unit Parts Company (SUPCO), White Rodgers, Englander, Breckwell, Harman, Lennox, Napoleon, St. Croix and Quadra-Fire.

We supply contractors, service technicians, housing developments, hospitals, retirement communities, institutions, and do-it-yourselfers.

Today, we have nearly one million SKUs in our system. We are constantly upgrading our cutting-edge technology to serve our customers better.

Copyright 2018