Project Hire Proposes Sheltered Piecework Program to Ease Financial Crunch for Norwood Seniors-October 3, 1980

A new employment program designed to help Norwood senior citizens earn extra income through light piecework at their own pace has been proposed by Project Hire.

Easing the Living Crunch

Modeled after successful programs in Brookline, Watertown, and Chelsea, the initiative aims to provide retired residents with supplemental income. Under federal regulations, retired persons can earn up to $5,000 annually without facing reductions in their monthly Social Security checks.

“It could give retired people the luxury of an extra income to ease their living problems,” explained Edward L. Pflueger, director of Project Hire. Sponsored by the Norfolk Mental Health Association, Project Hire has spent several years operating a sheltered piecework program for handicapped and disabled individuals. Pflueger noted that expanding the concept to include senior citizens not only provides financial relief but also allows active elders to serve as role models, adding focus and routine to their daily lives.

While seniors would have the option to work alongside disabled participants if they chose, the workshop is designed to offer flexible, low-key tasks. “People can work as much or as little as they want,” said Edmund G. Linehan, a long-time Norwood resident and business manager for Project Hire. “There is one young man here now who earns close to $100 a week.”

Industrial Subcontracts and Operations

Operating under state Department of Labor regulations, Project Hire is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Linehan reported strong cooperation from regional industry in securing subcontract work, allowing participants to handle tasks such as hand packaging, recycling small equipment, light soldering, item assembly, and booklet collating.

Local companies partnering with Project Hire for subcontracting include:

• Northrop Corp.
• Stop & Shop
• Raytheon
• Polaroid
• The Foxboro Co.
• Ionics Inc.
• Copley Pharmaceutical
• Lovett Industries
• Jet Spray Corp.
• New England Telephone

“We are a very upbeat, positive organization, turning out real work,” Pflueger said. In addition to paid piecework, the center offers various volunteer opportunities for seniors seeking community involvement. To ensure success and prevent frustration, Pflueger recommended that prospective participants complete a one-day aptitude test at the center to determine where their skills would be most effectively applied.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger