Nashville's SmART! Supplies is now celebrating their grand opening on Music Valley Drive.
"We are at 2416 Music Valley Drive across from the Opryland hotel," said Kyle Graden with SmART! Supplies.
The non-profit sells upcycled arts and crafts materials at discount prices and offers employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
"Yarn and paint, fabric and sewing notions," said Graden.
The store is a part of Progress Inc., an organization that promotes health and safety for people needing extra care.
"So we are one of Progress' employers. We employ three adults that have intellectual disabilities, they work about 15 hours a week. They're doing anything from processing donations, cleaning the store, keeping the sales floor stocked. A lot of time they'll help us bag purchases, take things in and out of cars," he said.
Tyrone McGee has worked at smart supplies since the day they opened.
"And to see [McGee's] improvements socially, it's incredible really," said Graden.
Graden said having a job changes everything.
"Having a reason to get up and get dressed and to do something," he said. "Overall it's just been a great environment of us learning from them and them learning from us."
For more information click here.
