Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's about I don't know, so forty years now, since
I was fifteen years old, I have been a thrift
store shopper.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I love a good thrift store.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I love it. I not only shop there, I donate there.
And now when I donate, I donate to an arc
thrift store. And joining me now the CEO of ARC
Thrift Stores, Lloyd Lewis to talk about a fundraiser coming up. Lloyd,
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
First of all, Mandie, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great to see you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Well, tell people a little bit about arc thrift stores,
where they came from, how they got started, and what
they actually do other than buy and sell goods.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, we got started over fifty years ago, and our
mission is to raise funds to support now fifteen ARC
Afficacy chapters across Colorado from four Collins to Pueblo and
on the western slopan Grand Junction, and in turn, those
chapters that we support help people with intellectual disabilities find jobs, housing,
(00:59):
medical service services, and schools. And people with intellectual disabilities
may have down syndrome, they may have autism, they may
have cerebral palsy, they may have other non specific cognitive challenges,
but the work that the chapters do that we support
with our fundraising through our stores is extremely critical of
(01:20):
thousands and thousands of individuals and families all across Colorado.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Lloyd, I was telling you off the air that when
I was very young, so forty years ago, again, my
mother actually worked for an ARC organization and they at
her group, they taught adults with developmental disabilities to do
lawn care and to refinish furniture, and that was what
they did, but it allowed them to live somewhat independently.
(01:46):
Because people don't necessarily think about it. Maybe you have
a challenge that prevents you from being able to live
by yourself, but that doesn't mean that you have to
live with your parents until they pass away. There are
ways to help people who may need a little resistance
be able to live a more independent life, and work
is a huge part of that. And do you guys,
(02:06):
I know that you have at the store that I frequent,
you have individuals that are working for art thrift stores.
So is that a program that allows them to make
a little income? How does that program work?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I want to talk about that program, but I want
to start with you're on screen there's no way.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Forty years ago, we work fifteen. So you're making that up. Yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Now.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Secondly, I'm so appreciati that your mother helped.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Us and was committed to what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And the point you make on people with intellectual disabilities
being able to be employed and being able to contribute
and earn money is extremely important.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
When I started twenty years ago, we had ten employees
with intellectual disabilities.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Today we have five hundred WHOA and they are working.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
All aspects of our company.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
They may accept donations, they may unload donations, they may
sort donations.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Price them, tag them, run them out to the sales floor.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They work in my corporate office, they.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Work in our warehouse, and they are amazing employees and
I attribute our success to their employment.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
They are very positive, they love.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
To contribute it, they love to work in teams, and
they inspire their fellow employees. And we have had nineteen
of twenty years of record success except for the COVID year, which.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
We also have supplemental programs for these wonderful employees. We
created something we call arc University, which is a series
of twelve post secondary style classes and money and computers
and transportation.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
And we do it over lunch, and if they participated
it all, they get a certificate.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
If they participate in six of twelve, they get a
bachelor's degree, nine of twelve, Master's dequery twelve or twelve
at PhD.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Oh that's fas last graduation.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
We have thirty masters graduates, thirty PhDs. I tell them,
and it upsets me that they all have many more
integrations than I do. But you know, you think you're
at Harvard commencement. They're just all proud and just so happy.
We have a social program.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
We may go to the.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Museums or the zoos or the movies.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
They love karaoke. They make me sing Ring of Fire
at karaoke.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And we we have a.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Community service program with the Civitans, where they may make
cookies for the police, or prepare care packages for military
service personnel serving overseas, or they may write letters to
seniors living assisted living. They're just amazing employees. And then
I myself got started in this because I have a
wonderful son who's now twenty one, who has Down syndrome,
(04:51):
and he's the inspiration.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
For the work I do and the work that our
company does Lloyd.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Back in the day when my mom was involved in
the ARC in our community, a lot of people still
were sort of laboring under this misconception that if someone
was born with Down syndrome or someone has a developmental disability,
that they were pretty much incapable of doing anything. Now
fast forward to now, and we see ad campaigns that
(05:17):
have young women who have Down syndrome, and we have
athletes that are competing in special Olympics, we have employees
at our thrift stores. So we've kind of blown that
stereotype out of the water. And I think that is
the best possible thing that could have ever happened. And
you have to be how do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
That was a stereotype. It was incorrect.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
People did not used to live with their families, they
did not used to go to public schools, they did
not used to be involved in the community or have employment.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But once we started advocating for that, the ARC of.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
The United States in particular, you know, as people started
to live with their families, participate in the communities, and
be employed and being.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Schools public schools, you know, all.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Of that changed and they have amazing capacities and capabilities
just through inclusion. As an example, people with Down syndrome
have gained on average twenty IQ points, going from severely
to minor a miloradly to mildly impaired. And it's just
a stereotype. You know. People are very accepting these days.
(06:30):
They love to, you know, be involved with people with disabilities.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And you see that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
You see that in the media, you see that in
the community.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
And you know you see that in schools, and you know,
my son is much.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
More popular than me, and our employees with much more
popular than me. I'm now Kennedy's dad. I'm not Lloyd.
I'm Kennedy's dad. So he's bypassed me in terms of his.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Impression on the Well, tell me what's happening this Thursday
and what you guys are doing to raise some extra
funds for ARC Thrift.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
This Thursday. We're very excited.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Debbie Brown, the president of the Colorado Business Roundtable, and
I are co hosting a special.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Event at the Landmark.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
In the Tech Center and we are hosting a reception
for the CEO of the ARC of the United States
and the CEO of Inclusion International. The ARC the United
States was the first organization founded by parents to advocate
in the nineteen forties for humane treatment in large institutions.
People like my son had a life expectancy of teens
(07:44):
back in.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
The day because they were being abused and mistreated.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So the ARC the United States advocated for humane treatment,
followed by advocacy for deinstitutionalization, mainstreaming, inclusion, public education, you know,
living in the community with their families, and they've made
a tremendous difference for people like my son. And we
have the CEO of the ARC United States visiting us
(08:09):
to talk about her work. I'm on the foundation board
for the ARC the United States and the treasure of
that board, and I also serve as treasure on another board,
an international board, Inclusion International, with members in over one
hundred countries. And you know, treatment of people with intellectual
disabilities varies across not just Star country, but also across
(08:32):
the world to a large degree. And you know, they're
doing work to advocate or education and employment and you know,
independent living.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Across the world.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
And I got introduced to it because I saw a
video of the ARC United States Convention where kids with
intellectual disabilities who are being sent away to shelters away
from their families in Ukraine to avoid the bombings that
we're occurring.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And it was just very sad to see this.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And how they were being segregated and sheltered.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Away from families.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And so, you know, I have become involved in work
across the country and across the world to hopefully make
a difference for people at my son So.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Can people participate in this event on Thursday? Come out
and meet the CEOs. I put the information on the blog,
But is it too late to OURSVP?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It is not too late, although I think RSVP has
been discontinued. But just show up. Just break the rules.
So just show up at the Landmark. It's at the
Landmark East. Everyone's welcome and you can hear these two
wonderful CEOs talk about their work, and then there'll be
an opportunity to donate to support their missions. And also
(09:54):
if you go on to the arc Through store website
and go to our donation tab, you can also donate
on that tab.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
To these two wonderful organizations. And you know, we're just
excited to have them in town.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I have multiple people on my Common Spirit Health text line,
people texting in asking before COVID, did you guys do
pickups at people's houses. And if you I have multiple
people saying they used to do that, but they don't
do that anymore. Is that something that we'll ever be
coming back.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Probably not.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
What we found is that people are in this world
of where they do drop off donations drive throughs, and
you know, landlines aren't as popular as they used to be,
and they can pull a fast one and ask you
to contact me and I'll arrange a pickup. But you know,
that's not something that we've continued after COVID because I
(10:55):
think the environment's changed. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, people.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Really do as much with landlines as they used to.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
We did do furniture pickups.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
You can call call us at our warehouse and we'll
arrange a furniture pickup.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Oh, so that's what they're asking about it. I might
have done that in the.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
We have thirty six stores, all right, sorry, man, We
have thirty six stores and fifteen free standing donation stations.
So chances are for anybody there's there's a drop off
donation site within a mile or two where they live.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I like to drive around with my donations in the
back of my car and let them get good and
seasoned for maybe a couple months, and then finally remember
to drop them off at the store. I know I'm
not the only one who does that, so yeah, I
like to I like to really let them.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
You know, get get primed.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Before I drop them off. I'm just kidding, Lloyd Lewis.
I appreciate what you're doing. I shop in the ARC
store in Parker and it is off the chain. It's
so good. It's so so good. I was thinking about
it as I was talking to you. I think I
about this sweater at a thrift store. I'm almost positive
I did, and people do not believe me, but I
have been thrift shopping for so long and it's like
(12:06):
a little treasure hunt every time you go. Lloyd, I
appreciate everything you're doing for the community, and thanks for
making time with me today.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Thanks for all your support. Man appreciate you all right.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That is Lloyd Lewis. He is the CEO of ARC
Thrift Stores.
It's about I don't know, so forty years now, since
I was fifteen years old, I have been a thrift
store shopper.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I love a good thrift store.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I love it. I not only shop there, I donate there.
And now when I donate, I donate to an arc
thrift store. And joining me now the CEO of ARC
Thrift Stores, Lloyd Lewis to talk about a fundraiser coming up. Lloyd,
welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
First of all, Mandie, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great to see you.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Well, tell people a little bit about arc thrift stores,
where they came from, how they got started, and what
they actually do other than buy and sell goods.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, we got started over fifty years ago, and our
mission is to raise funds to support now fifteen ARC
Afficacy chapters across Colorado from four Collins to Pueblo and
on the western slopan Grand Junction, and in turn, those
chapters that we support help people with intellectual disabilities find jobs, housing,
(00:59):
medical service services, and schools. And people with intellectual disabilities
may have down syndrome, they may have autism, they may
have cerebral palsy, they may have other non specific cognitive challenges,
but the work that the chapters do that we support
with our fundraising through our stores is extremely critical of
(01:20):
thousands and thousands of individuals and families all across Colorado.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Lloyd, I was telling you off the air that when
I was very young, so forty years ago, again, my
mother actually worked for an ARC organization and they at
her group, they taught adults with developmental disabilities to do
lawn care and to refinish furniture, and that was what
they did, but it allowed them to live somewhat independently.
(01:46):
Because people don't necessarily think about it. Maybe you have
a challenge that prevents you from being able to live
by yourself, but that doesn't mean that you have to
live with your parents until they pass away. There are
ways to help people who may need a little resistance
be able to live a more independent life, and work
is a huge part of that. And do you guys,
(02:06):
I know that you have at the store that I frequent,
you have individuals that are working for art thrift stores.
So is that a program that allows them to make
a little income? How does that program work?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I want to talk about that program, but I want
to start with you're on screen there's no way.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Forty years ago, we work fifteen. So you're making that up. Yeah,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Now.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Secondly, I'm so appreciati that your mother helped.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Us and was committed to what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And the point you make on people with intellectual disabilities
being able to be employed and being able to contribute
and earn money is extremely important.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
When I started twenty years ago, we had ten employees
with intellectual disabilities.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Today we have five hundred WHOA and they are working.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
All aspects of our company.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
They may accept donations, they may unload donations, they may
sort donations.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Price them, tag them, run them out to the sales floor.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They work in my corporate office, they.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Work in our warehouse, and they are amazing employees and
I attribute our success to their employment.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
They are very positive, they love.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
To contribute it, they love to work in teams, and
they inspire their fellow employees. And we have had nineteen
of twenty years of record success except for the COVID year, which.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
We also have supplemental programs for these wonderful employees. We
created something we call arc University, which is a series
of twelve post secondary style classes and money and computers
and transportation.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
And we do it over lunch, and if they participated
it all, they get a certificate.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
If they participate in six of twelve, they get a
bachelor's degree, nine of twelve, Master's dequery twelve or twelve
at PhD.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Oh that's fas last graduation.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
We have thirty masters graduates, thirty PhDs. I tell them,
and it upsets me that they all have many more
integrations than I do. But you know, you think you're
at Harvard commencement. They're just all proud and just so happy.
We have a social program.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
We may go to the.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Museums or the zoos or the movies.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
They love karaoke. They make me sing Ring of Fire
at karaoke.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And we we have a.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Community service program with the Civitans, where they may make
cookies for the police, or prepare care packages for military
service personnel serving overseas, or they may write letters to
seniors living assisted living. They're just amazing employees. And then
I myself got started in this because I have a
wonderful son who's now twenty one, who has Down syndrome,
(04:51):
and he's the inspiration.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
For the work I do and the work that our
company does Lloyd.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Back in the day when my mom was involved in
the ARC in our community, a lot of people still
were sort of laboring under this misconception that if someone
was born with Down syndrome or someone has a developmental disability,
that they were pretty much incapable of doing anything. Now
fast forward to now, and we see ad campaigns that
(05:17):
have young women who have Down syndrome, and we have
athletes that are competing in special Olympics, we have employees
at our thrift stores. So we've kind of blown that
stereotype out of the water. And I think that is
the best possible thing that could have ever happened. And
you have to be how do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
That was a stereotype. It was incorrect.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
People did not used to live with their families, they
did not used to go to public schools, they did
not used to be involved in the community or have employment.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But once we started advocating for that, the ARC of.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
The United States in particular, you know, as people started
to live with their families, participate in the communities, and
be employed and being.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Schools public schools, you know, all.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Of that changed and they have amazing capacities and capabilities
just through inclusion. As an example, people with Down syndrome
have gained on average twenty IQ points, going from severely
to minor a miloradly to mildly impaired. And it's just
a stereotype. You know. People are very accepting these days.
(06:30):
They love to, you know, be involved with people with disabilities.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And you see that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
You see that in the media, you see that in
the community.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
And you know you see that in schools, and you know,
my son is much.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
More popular than me, and our employees with much more
popular than me. I'm now Kennedy's dad. I'm not Lloyd.
I'm Kennedy's dad. So he's bypassed me in terms of his.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Impression on the Well, tell me what's happening this Thursday
and what you guys are doing to raise some extra
funds for ARC Thrift.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
This Thursday. We're very excited.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Debbie Brown, the president of the Colorado Business Roundtable, and
I are co hosting a special.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Event at the Landmark.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
In the Tech Center and we are hosting a reception
for the CEO of the ARC of the United States
and the CEO of Inclusion International. The ARC the United
States was the first organization founded by parents to advocate
in the nineteen forties for humane treatment in large institutions.
People like my son had a life expectancy of teens
(07:44):
back in.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
The day because they were being abused and mistreated.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So the ARC the United States advocated for humane treatment,
followed by advocacy for deinstitutionalization, mainstreaming, inclusion, public education, you know,
living in the community with their families, and they've made
a tremendous difference for people like my son. And we
have the CEO of the ARC United States visiting us
(08:09):
to talk about her work. I'm on the foundation board
for the ARC the United States and the treasure of
that board, and I also serve as treasure on another board,
an international board, Inclusion International, with members in over one
hundred countries. And you know, treatment of people with intellectual
disabilities varies across not just Star country, but also across
(08:32):
the world to a large degree. And you know, they're
doing work to advocate or education and employment and you know,
independent living.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Across the world.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
And I got introduced to it because I saw a
video of the ARC United States Convention where kids with
intellectual disabilities who are being sent away to shelters away
from their families in Ukraine to avoid the bombings that
we're occurring.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
And it was just very sad to see this.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And how they were being segregated and sheltered.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Away from families.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
And so, you know, I have become involved in work
across the country and across the world to hopefully make
a difference for people at my son So.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Can people participate in this event on Thursday? Come out
and meet the CEOs. I put the information on the blog,
But is it too late to OURSVP?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It is not too late, although I think RSVP has
been discontinued. But just show up. Just break the rules.
So just show up at the Landmark. It's at the
Landmark East. Everyone's welcome and you can hear these two
wonderful CEOs talk about their work, and then there'll be
an opportunity to donate to support their missions. And also
(09:54):
if you go on to the arc Through store website
and go to our donation tab, you can also donate
on that tab.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
To these two wonderful organizations. And you know, we're just
excited to have them in town.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I have multiple people on my Common Spirit Health text line,
people texting in asking before COVID, did you guys do
pickups at people's houses. And if you I have multiple
people saying they used to do that, but they don't
do that anymore. Is that something that we'll ever be
coming back.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Probably not.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
What we found is that people are in this world
of where they do drop off donations drive throughs, and
you know, landlines aren't as popular as they used to be,
and they can pull a fast one and ask you
to contact me and I'll arrange a pickup. But you know,
that's not something that we've continued after COVID because I
(10:55):
think the environment's changed. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, people.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Really do as much with landlines as they used to.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
We did do furniture pickups.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
You can call call us at our warehouse and we'll
arrange a furniture pickup.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Oh, so that's what they're asking about it. I might
have done that in the.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
We have thirty six stores, all right, sorry, man, We
have thirty six stores and fifteen free standing donation stations.
So chances are for anybody there's there's a drop off
donation site within a mile or two where they live.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I like to drive around with my donations in the
back of my car and let them get good and
seasoned for maybe a couple months, and then finally remember
to drop them off at the store. I know I'm
not the only one who does that, so yeah, I
like to I like to really let them.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
You know, get get primed.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Before I drop them off. I'm just kidding, Lloyd Lewis.
I appreciate what you're doing. I shop in the ARC
store in Parker and it is off the chain. It's
so good. It's so so good. I was thinking about
it as I was talking to you. I think I
about this sweater at a thrift store. I'm almost positive
I did, and people do not believe me, but I
have been thrift shopping for so long and it's like
(12:06):
a little treasure hunt every time you go. Lloyd, I
appreciate everything you're doing for the community, and thanks for
making time with me today.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Thanks for all your support. Man appreciate you all right.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That is Lloyd Lewis. He is the CEO of ARC
Thrift Stores.
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