CENTER OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK

Since 1957, the WorkCenter in San Carlos has provided vocational
rehabilitation for people down on their luck, giving them a chance to
develop the responsibility and work habits necessary to return to
mainstream jobs.

The 35,000-square-foot production center employs clients who package
and assemble products on a contract basis for other companies --
creating a unique entrepreneurial enterprise that provides hope for
welfare recipients and clients in drug-rehabilitation programs who
would ordinarily have a tough time finding work.

But the usually bustling center has become a victim of Silicon
Valley's economic downturn. The WorkCenter has at times been forced to
use only workers from the San Mateo Sheriff's Department's work
furlough program, who are working off their sentences.

``We have gone through dry spells in past years, but they have usually
been more seasonal,'' said Jeanette Ward, a human service program
manager who has been with the WorkCenter for 16 years. ``It has gotten
to the point where we are having a hard time finding contracts. The
labor in foreign markets is much cheaper and is hard to compete with.''

Over the years, the center has expanded. In 1965, the program added a
mental-health division to help employ people with psychiatric
problems. And in 1989, a food-service division -- the Catering
Connection -- was established.

The WorkCenter's annual revenues have remained constant, while
expenses have increased because of increased minimum wage, rising rent
and the high cost of doing business in the Silicon Valley, said Jerry
Demarest, the operations manager. The Catering Connection has been a
bright spot for the program, with revenues increasing from less than
$100,000 in 1994-95 to $362,639 in 1999-2000, Demarest said.

The staff at the public non-profit WorkCenter hopes the economy has
hit bottom, that it will bounce back, and that the center will land
some new corporate accounts. The WorkCenter prides itself in high
quality and quick turnaround and has contracts with companies ranging
from United Airlines to Klutz Press, said marketing manager Londa Moura.

Showing Promise

Success stories from the program abound. Workers who show promise
after starting in the warehouse often advance to job-placement
programs. In April, three of those clients celebrated their first
anniversary of employment at the Menlo Park Safeway.

One of the Safeway employees is 40-year-old David Saldana of San
Mateo, who works as a bagger at the store.

Saldana, who said he abused drugs ranging from marijuana to stimulants
to heroin, said he has been clean and sober for more than 10 years. He
attributed his recovery to the WorkCenter programs.

``This job keeps me busy and makes me feel good about myself,'' said
Saldana, who started doing assembly work before he progressed to jobs
at a hospital, Goodwill and a restaurant before joining Safeway last
year.

``I felt like I was going to die because the drugs were killing me,
but now I'm paying my own rent and bills. It's helped me to take
responsibility for my rehabilitation. I feel like part of a team at
Safeway. It's really helped me improve myself and become
independent.''

When Things Go Right

Moura said her job is rewarding because when things go right, everyone
involved sees a benefit.

``It's nice to see an employer satisfied with the worker,'' said
Moura. ``And it's great to see the worker get past a hand-to-mouth
existence. It helps their self-esteem, they are proud of their work
and get up every day with a purpose.''