Northwest Healthcare Linen

Northwest Healthcare Linen (NWHCL), a local industrial laundry supply company, was originally contacted by Cascade Vocational Services for a site tour in 1995. After touring the facilities, the manager told CVS about some of the tasks that were routine, yet time consuming, such as stacking washcloths. NWHCL then hired an applicant through CVS to complete this task.

Over the years NWHCL has grown exponentially and CVS has grown with them. With complex orders and shipments coming and going on a daily basis, staff would sometimes fall behind on the manual folding. NWHCL often had to pull its skilled and highly paid laborers off their more complex tasks to fill these orders. CVS was able to submit a proposal for an established crew of individual with disabilities to perform these much needed tasks on a regular basis.

This proposal helped to alleviate some of these production bottlenecks and also created  employment for several individuals with disabilities. By subcontracting a portion of their  production in an “enclave” of individuals with disabilities, this has allowed NWHCL to better utilize its skilled labor and fill orders more efficiently. Owner, Jim Hall, says that “you will never find a more enthusiastic group of employees!”

For over ten years this enclave has provided meaningful employment for many individuals with disabilities.