U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse toured the James L. Maher Center in Middletown on Monday, and met the staff and many clients of the organization, which helps developmentally disabled children and adults. “Everywhere Senator Whitehouse visited, he expressed an appreciation for what the Maher Center is doing, voiced his support for our efforts to continue what we do, and offered to help us whenever he can,” stated Executive Director, Angelo Tartaglione.

Throughout the tour, Whitehouse stopped and chatted with many of the Center’s participants. The Maher Center provides services to nearly 300 children and adults with developmental disabilities by operating group homes and employing dozens of developmentally disabled adults in its various business enterprises, which include the Garden Center, on Aquidneck Ave., and its laundry, jewelry-making, and lawn care services.

According to Dennis DeMarinis, Jr., the Maher Center’s Capital Campaign Manager, “The Senator had the opportunity to observe first hand how the Maher Center’s many business ventures allow their participants to earn a paycheck, be taxpayers and have a sense of worth.”