Pat Throm started at CCAR in 1971. If you ask him, he’ll say, “That was such a long time ago. It was back in CCAR’s old days. Pretty much, just Roy Cuppy and me was here.” At that time, Pat worked at the Sheltered Workshop performing manufacturing jobs through our contracts with area businesses. He later worked as a janitor at our S.T.R.I.V.E. program. Eventually, he found jobs at the Coca Cola Bottling Company and a few other community locations with CCAR’s continued support.

In the mid-80’s, Pat moved from Heritage House (a now closed, supervised living facility) into his own apartment with assistance from CCAR’s Case Coordination Program (now called Client & Family Support). Pat says, “I didn’t like Heritage House too much. The food wasn’t very good. They had too many people there. I like my apartment. I have friends here. CCAR takes me to the store and helps with my pills.” Pat continues to participate in the CFS program and receives intermittent assistance to live on his own. In 1990, the CCAR Supported Employment program helped Pat find a job at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home. He started as a grounds worker. Then, he worked as a janitor and dishwasher. While Pat made many friends at Odd Fellow-Rebekah during his 20 years of employment, he decided to “take an early retirement”. In 2010, he returned to the CCAR day program to participate in our recreational activities and earn money as a janitor at the CCAR Manufacturing Plant.

Currently, Pat enjoys attending METS classes at Sarah Bush, taking trips with the Charleston Recreation Department, taking painting classes at the Harmony Center, playing Wii bowling, and traveling with his family. Pat proudly tells people, “Oh yeah, I been to Italy, New York, Branson, and a bunch of places on an airplane.” He can often be seen around Mattoon eating at Common Grounds, enjoying a concert in the park, going to flea markets at the mall, or shopping at Big Lots. Pat continues to have a close relationship with his siblings, saying that his sister (Syma) is “a real good cook”. When asked about his 40 years at CCAR, Pat simply says, “Yeah, I like it here. The people are real nice and help me out a lot. Don’t worry…I’d never leave you guys.”