How your recycled documents can support people with disabilities

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At Gone For Good in Birmingham, longtime employee Cedric Scott, affectionately known as “Big Ced,” loads documents into an industrial shredder. Big Ced has excelled at his role for over 17 years.

What started as a way to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities has blossomed into a successful business model that invests its profit back into United Ability.

We got an inside look at these employees in action—here’s what we found.

Creating jobs for people with disabilities since 2006

As one of United Ability’s flagship programs, Gone For Good was born with one mission in mind: to employ people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

For many of these individuals, employment provides not only a paycheck but a sense of independence and purpose.

To get a better grasp on what this mission means, we talked to the program’s director, Abe Bernstein.

“Working with individuals who have disabilities is number one. Number one in our business decisions and number one in our mindset.”

Abe Bernstein, Director, Gone For Good

Abe started his tenure as director in 2015 after touring the facility with his wife.

“I came to United Ability on a tour at the end of 2015. I wasn’t looking for a job—I just wanted to give back, donate, sit on the board or volunteer.

Two weeks after my wife and I came in, they called and asked if I was interested in working there. I couldn’t turn it down.”

Abe Bernstein, Director, Gone For Good

Now, he can’t imagine working anywhere else.

“They’re the best employees I’ve ever worked with. They know our customers, work hard, show up to work every day, rarely complain and they’re happy as all get out when they get a paycheck.”

Abe Bernstein, Director, Gone For Good

See the services Gone For Good provides + support meaningful work.

Gone For Good serves individuals + companies across Alabama

Gone For Good is NAID AAA Certified, which is the highest certification available for secure document and e-waste destruction companies.

Not only is it a top-notch destruction company, but it’s also completely green! Gone For Good recycles everything that comes through the doors, from paper to electronics and hard drives.

Here’s how the process works:

• Step 1: Get a customized quote.
• Step 2: Schedule your service for pick up or drop off.
• Step 3: Gone For Good collects your information + destroys it.
• Step 4: Receive a certificate of destruction.

Currently, the team serves 1,400+ customers from all corners of Alabama, but Abe let me in on some exciting updates—they’re going to start selling franchises throughout the country (and possibly the world!)

Franchising Gone For Good will allow United Ability and affiliate programs to spread the inclusive mission to the rest of the world.

What others are saying about Gone For Good

“To be able to partner with someone we can trust and see the good in the work that’s being done is great.

If you’re looking for an organization that wants to uplift the community, help empower individuals and provide meaningful employment for individuals, then Gone For Good is an excellent choice.”

Candace O’Neil, VP of Community Engagement, United Way of Central Alabama

By local, for local

When I visited Gone For Good, their teamwork and encouragement were infectious. You can tell how much they loved their jobs and serving people across the greater Birmingham area.

Plus, all profits made are used to support United Ability’s programs.

When you work with Gone For Good, not only are you supporting a local business, but you’re pouring directly back into intentional programming such as Hand In Hand, Employment Services and more.

Keep up with Gone For Good + help United Ability provide employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.

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