Contact:  Donna Gray
Phone:  373-2723

Special Needs Shoppers Head to the Stores with Student Volunteers

GREENSBORO, NC -- (December 3, 2007) – The Greensboro Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities will hold its 22nd annual Shopper’s Day on Thursday, December 6 from 9 am to 12 noon at Four Seasons Towne Center. This event hosts more than 160 people with disabilities.

The shoppers are accompanied by student volunteers from area high schools and other organizations in Guilford County. The annual Shopper’s Day allows the volunteers to gain valuable insight from persons with disabilities while emphasizing the importance of empathy, acceptance, and compassion. Volunteers become aware of barriers that persons with disabilities face on a daily basis. This allows the volunteers to come away with a heightened sense of awareness of the everyday challenges faced by this diverse population.
  
Mayor-elect Yvonne Johnson said, “These shoppers are some of our most talented residents, and we want to support all of the good things they do for our community. Shopper’s Day is just one way to support our special needs residents. The event provides personal learning to all who are shopping and volunteering, and also exhibits Greensboro’s commitment of inclusion of all people. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.”

For more information on the Greensboro Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities or Shopper’s Day, contact Donna Gray at (336) 373-2723 or donna.gray@greensboro-nc.gov.

The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued.  As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect.  The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body.  For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.

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