West Chester, Pa. (October 14, 2026) – One of the largest employment and disability-focused nonprofit support service programs in southeastern Pennsylvania is upgrading its facility, thanks to state funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta.
Handi-Crafters, which offers employment and vocational skill development services to people with disabilities, will use the funding to make facility improvements that enhance safety, support program growth, and modernize aging infrastructure.
“For people with disabilities in our region, Handi-Crafters is more than a job. It’s a home where they can develop new skills, meet new people, and learn something new about themselves,” Comitta said. “I’m happy to help secure this investment so that people with disabilities can continue to have access to meaningful work and job training that helps them contribute to our economy and tap their full potential.”
For more than 65 years, Handi-Crafters has evolved to meet the changing needs and aspirations of individuals with disabilities. What began as a traditional vocational workshop has grown into a multifaceted organization offering meaningful employment, vocational training, community participation, and pathways to competitive integrated employment.
“Handi-Crafters has been a vital part of Chester County, creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with disabilities to work, develop skills, build relationships, and contribute to their communities,” said April Ennis-Pierson, Executive Director of Handi-Crafters. “This investment goes beyond improving our aging facilities. It strengthens a place where hundreds of individuals proudly find purpose, independence, and a sense of belonging each year. On behalf of everyone at Handi-Crafters, we are deeply grateful to Senator Comitta for recognizing the importance of our mission and investing in the people and communities we serve.”
Today, Handi-Crafters employs more than 210 individuals with disabilities each year in a 30,000-square-foot production facility at its Vocational Work Center in the Coatesville area. The organization is contracted to do custom packaging and kitting processes, providing 21st-century employment solutions to staffing shortages.
Handi-Crafters provides customized support across a wide range of production needs including product assembly, retail packaging and repackaging, promotional kitting, subscription assembly, inspection, rework, quality assurance, and more. Current projects include working with appliance parts, fasteners, fan assembly, beverage and food repacking as well as co-packing, assembling medical components, filling intricate component packing, filling point-of-purchase product boxes, and assembling and packaging for shipping.
Many workers are experiencing employment barriers due to physical disabilities, mental health diagnoses, traumatic brain injuries, blindness, or other developmental and intellectual disabilities. In addition to opportunities for socialization, confidence-building, and personal growth, Handi-Crafters helps workers develop the professional skills necessary to achieve competitive integrated employment opportunities and advance their careers with outside employers.
Across its diverse programs and services, Handi-Crafters supports approximately 300 individuals with disabilities annually, providing opportunities for vocational training, meaningful employment, community participation, and personal growth.
For more information about Handi-Crafters, visit handi-crafters.org.\
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