Student-run gift shop offers a place to learn, connect and grow

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill. - UChicago Medicine AdventHealth GlenOaks had needed a gift shop for years, and its nearby school needed a way to give GlenOaks School Transition Program students -- who face challenges with anxiety, depression and other emotional disorders -- experience working in the community in a safe, supportive environment.

To address both needs, the school and students successfully opened Gifts To Go at the hospital in Glendale Heights on Oct. 13.

The shop meets a third need, too, giving the school's many creative, talented students an opportunity to make the items sold there.

"The students are excited. They've been asking every day when it's going to open," said Jennifer McConahy, licensed behavioral health counselor, Pheasant Ridge Transition Program. "It can be hard to get them out into the community volunteering and feeling confident about that. We're hoping this feels good to them."

Supporting students as they transition to adulthood

The GlenOaks School Transition Program serves young adults ages 17 to 21.

The goal of the program is to offer ongoing support to high school graduates as they transition out of high school but are not yet ready to move to full independence.

"We realized that our students needed more support as they were transitioning into adulthood," McConahy said. "We developed this program to help them get more real-life experience through volunteer work, to increase their vocational skills, provide mental health support and really become more engaged in the community."

Students in the GlenOaks School Transition Program have different levels of need.

Like all students at the GlenOaks School, which also serves students grades 3 through 12, they have social-emotional disabilities, learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorder.

Some won't step foot in the school, let alone in a hospital, due to their anxiety.

McConahy recalled one student who was unable to leave her bedroom when she first started at GlenOaks School.

She was selectively mute and had serious anxiety.

Over time, she was able to start coming into the building and eventually graduated.

The student moved into the Transition Program, began to talk, began to flourish and has now completed the program and is working full-time in the community.

"She worked really hard to grow as a person, to use the support and resources, and she is doing awesome," McConahy said. "I think about other students who keep in contact with us after they leave and reflect on the love, care and support they got from us. It is gratifying to know they were always cared for here, they were important and we made a difference to them."

Building skills, confidence and connection

Proceeds from Gifts To Go sales will be reinvested directly into the gift shop, with the goal of breaking even financially and keeping operations self-sustaining.

The Transition Program's customer service journey started a few years ago, when students started going to the hospital to sell popcorn to staff and visitors. After that, they operated a coffee cart for staff.

"It was skills building and confidence building," said McConahy.

The students learned about money management and customer service.

For students who might go home at the end of the school day and not leave their bedrooms until the following morning, the small social interactions they had were instrumental to their learning, growth and development.

"We want it to be a good learning experience for the kids and a positive work experience," said Melinda Turner, lead behavioral health counselor. "It connects us to the hospital in a nice way. This puts us out there and connects us to staff and community members in a new, meaningful way."

Gifts To Go focuses on developing students' strengths.

Some students will be public-facing, working at the kiosk and cash register, providing customer service on site, ordering supplies, stocking inventory and running the gift shop.

Others who may not be comfortable in the hospital will stay at the school, working on crafts and producing merchandise for sale at the shop.

"Our students are in charge from start to finish," McConahy said.

Students have made artificial flower arrangements, fleece blankets and jewelry. They will sell teddy bears, keychains, nurse clips and homemade greeting cards for staff, patients and visitors.

"This teaches responsibility, professionalism, communication, organization -- all of those skills that we are trying to instill in our students so that they can be successful as they enter the adult work world," McConahy said. "It also helps more closely connect the hospital and the school and makes students more visible in the community and the hospital."

Last year, recognizing that food needs among families were increasing, students started a food pantry.

Every Friday, Transition Program students pack bags with food items for as many as 25 families to help get them through the weekend.

"Just like the hospital, we take care of the whole person," McConahy said.