Garten supports people with disabilities in Oregon's Central Willamette Valley to contribute to the community through employment and retirement opportunities.
About Us
Our Story
Garten was founded as a nonprofit corporation in 1970 by Sally Gearhart in Salem, Oregon. Sweeping legal changes that gave rights to people with disabilities were afoot in Oregon and across the nation. Newly retired from her first career as a nurse, Sally chose this pivitol window of history to begin a small program that served special needs children. She called it “Garten Foundation”.
The 1970’s
Public schools began providing classroom education for children and youth with disabilities, so Garten’s programs were adjusted to focus on adults with developmental disabilities. The relocation of people with disabilities from institutions into community group homes was just beginning. Garten provided them the opportunity to work, opening Garten Packaging & Assembly Division in 1972. By 1974, Garten expanded serves to also serve adults with long-term mental illness. Garten Recycling Division was launched in 1975. By 1976, Garten also provided grounds maintenance services.
The 1980’s
The State of Oregon began a comprehensive process that provided certification to Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities (QRF’s). Garten—always on the cutting edge—became a certified QRF. Garten’s foundress, Sally Gearhart, retired for the second time, passing leadership of Garten to Executive Director Emil Graziani. Garten Custodial Services opened in 1981; Garten Mail Services followed in 1984. By 1985, Garten also provided supported employment services that enabled people with disabilities to work in community businesses. In 1986, Garten established a model program that served seniors and retirees with disabilities.
The 1990’s
Garten had grown to serve more than 200 adults with disabilities. Garten purchased its first property, moving Administrative Offices and Garten Recycling Division moved to Industrial Way NE. In 1992, Garten’s Mail House became the 1st private mail bureau in the Mid-Willamette Valley to own an Optical Character Reader (OCR). By 1993, Garten Mail became the largest mail house in the Salem area. In 1997, the corporate name was updated to Garten Services, Inc. and the former name “Garten Foundation” was retired.
The Decade of the 2000’s
In 2001, Day Break Day Activities opened in Keizer to provide day activities to people with disabilities who had aged out of the workforce or were unable to work full-time. Emil Graziani retired in 2004, and Tim Rocak was hired as Garten’s new Chief Executive Officer. In 2006, Garten launched operations in Dallas, expanding into the commercial laundry business. Garten’s Eugene office was established in 2007, plus Electronics Recycling operations were launched and the Day Break program expanded services to serve clients in Polk County from a new Dallas site. In 2008, Garten achieved Marion County EarthWISE Certification at its three Salem facilities and established an employee Sustainability Steering Committee to lead the organization through continual improvement in sustainability efforts. Garten’s Zero Waste Events service was established in 2009 and first served the Oregon State Fair with green teams in 2010.
Since 2010 ...
The world changed with the lengthening reality of The Great Recession. A new staff position known as our “Sustainability Advisor was created as a service to the community, to provide free assistance in evaluating and balancing economic, environmental and social equity concerns in business. With its Industrial Way facility paid off in 2010 - and Garten Recycling Division having grown such that recycling operations required that entire campus - Garten purchased a new facility on Hawthorne Avenue SE to house Administrative Offices, Garten’s Mail House, and Garten Packaging & Fulfillment Division.
Garten Today ...
Garten Services provides vocational, career, retirement and day activities for more than 500 people with disabilities throughout the Central Willamette Valley.
Garten serves people with developmental disabilities and long-term mental illness throughout Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton and Lane Counties.
Serving you from five locations:
• Garten Dallas
• Garten Eugene
• Garten Hawthorne
• Garten North Salem
• Garten South Salem
We increase society’s awareness of human potential.