Some kids don’t get a lot of chances as they start their lives. They draw the short straw and end up in foster care, or homeless. Some get caught up with the wrong crowd and find themselves in trouble with the law.
Through it all, they never really get a chance to learn how to get a job, earn a paycheck, grow and prosper. A lot of people in the business world are aware of this, but few know what to do about it.
So, when the Pivot youth assistance nonprofit came up with an idea, the Oklahoma City business community came running to help with more than $640,000 in grants and professional assistance.
That was all Pivot needed to turn a dream that began 18 months ago into a reality that could continue to change lives for years to come. Last month, Pivot opened the doors to a 20,000-square-foot Pivot Preserves manufacturing facility on its campus near the State Capital at Lincoln Blvd and NE 50 St. in Oklahoma City.
The non-profit enterprise turns fresh fruit into jars of preserves that the organization sells to the public through a growing range of retail venues, such as pop-up tents, booths or through area retail partners, said Elizabeth McLeckie, Pivot’s manager of marketing and communications.
Using makeshift facilities, Pivot Preserves produced 1,700 jars of preserves in the last quarter of 2023. Flavors included Cherry Limeade, Mixed Berry, Peach, Apple Butter, and Jalapeno Cranberry, she said.
With the new manufacturing facility, McLeckie says production capability can easily meet market demands, which will grow as more retail partners come on board.
Because of the manufacturing facility, Pivot will finally have a place where its young clients can learn the hard and soft skills required to hold jobs, and that will be a step forward, McLeckie said.
Previously, when we sent Pivot people to a job, it felt like we were feeding them to the wolves, saying, ‘Good luck, we hope it works out,’ McLeckie said. Now, Pivot can provide job training in an empathetic work environment.
She said Pivot’s overall mission is to serve Oklahoma County youth, ranging from 12 to 24, who are in crisis and often come from troubled backgrounds such as foster care, homelessness, or trouble with the law. Pivot can serve youth with an array of assistance such as food, shelter, and clothing as well as access to education, healthcare, and counseling.
Pivot’s mission is to break down barriers, to encourage young people and show them that they don’t have to do life alone, McLeckie said.
The average age of Pivot clients participating in the manufacturing program is 20, she said, and their jobs at Pivot Preserves can range from food preparation and canning operations to sales and customer service. At the end of Pivot’s six-month training cycle, participants are better prepared for real-world employment opportunities in industries such as retail and food service.
Currently, Pivot Preserves employs a staff of five workers at a rate of $12 per hour, but McLecklie hopes to increase that number to 10 employees by the end of this spring and 20 by next year.
Pivot President and Chief Executive Jennifer Goodrich called the new facility a game changer.
Thanks to the support of Bank of America, MetaFund, United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Wayfinder Grant, Hal Smith Restaurants and other partners, we will be able to increase our capacity for employment and provide more job training opportunities for more youth.
Bank of America Oklahoma City President Tony Shinn called Pivot an anchor for at-risk youth across the Oklahoma City community. Bank of America helped fund the Pivot Preserves manufacturing facility with a $100,000 grant through the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
The manufacturing program gives youth an opportunity to feel productive and understand what it takes to be good employees, Shinn said. Our investments… mean young people have an unprecedented opportunity to transition out of uncertainty to building social and career skills that empower them to develop into independent adults.
Bank of America has been a strong supporter of the work Pivot is doing for the community, Shinn said. Within the past five years, Bank of America has provided $152,000 to help support Pivot programs.
Shinn says Pivot Preserves have a great taste and the program will soon pay dividends for the nonprofit.
Now that the manufacturing facility is open, McLeckie says work is now focused on forming new retail partnerships.
We are trying to get our product in the hands of as many retailers as possible. If we can increase sales, we can increase production and create more jobs. What we’re looking forward to is really putting this facility to work, she said.
