Thanks to Member Greg Tyler and Driskill’s Downtown Market

Thanks to Member Greg Tyler and Driskill’s Downtown Market

Greg Tyler

In April of 2016 Driskill’s Downtown Market in Hopkins introduced a new “Toggle Up” campaign, a socially responsible program in 2016 to help local nonprofits raise money and awareness.  Driskill’s customers are encouraged to “toggle up” or round up their receipts. Proceeds from the additional funds are then donated to a nonprofit organization Thanks to Vail Place member Greg Tyler, our organization was one of the first to benefit, raising more than $4,000.

After 20 years as a Vail Place member, Greg was happy to take the initiative to introduce Vail Place to the Driskill’s management team. Greg was hired by Driskill’s last October, and is currently working in the deli area. A resident of Hopkins for the past 14 years, Greg credits Vail Place with helping him to gain the confidence to independently apply for that employment.

“After I heard about the Toggle Up program in April, I approached my manager right away and she was very open-minded,” Greg says. “They met with Vail Place staff and everything was set!”

Building connections within the community is a large part of the Vail Place mission and the Clubhouse program overall, as is the work-ordered day model. Members like Greg are encouraged to work within the Clubhouse initially to help build esteem. “Getting the chance to do the work of the agency right along with the staff really builds confidence,” Greg says, adding that during his time at Vail Place he worked in a variety of roles involving clerical work, hospitality and running the snack bar. He was a member of the case management and Clubhouse committees, and even ran a guitar circle where he taught others how to play. Music is still a large part of Greg’s life and he writes and records his own music, and plays guitar, keyboards and drums.

Although Greg isn’t able to visit the Clubhouse as much as he would like these days, he feels a strong affinity for Vail Place and wanted to “give back” as soon as he heard of the Toggle Up program. “You can’t run a marathon right off the bat. Vail Place helps you make those first steps, gain the competence, and then you just keep moving along,” he says. Thank you to Greg, and to Driskill’s for helping continue the mission of Vail Place!