ORANGE, NJ – ORANGE, NJ -- Nelson Quockco of Orange may be unable to hold down a full-time job, but that does not stop him from hopping on his red four-wheel drive scooter and heading off to buy groceries for others in the area who need a hand.

“I miss working, that’s why I enjoy this,” Nelson states simply.  “I get satisfaction in the fact that I can help someone else.”

Nelson’s career was sidelined by a series of strokes, the first of which occurred in 1994 at age 51.  His career had included service in the U.S. Air Force, boiler operator for the Orange Housing Authority, Manager of the Peppermint Lounge and bus and truck driver.

Through his battle with heart disease and personal losses (he lost two sons to heart problems), Nelson felt compelled to find meaning in his life.  He joined the Senior Community Independent Living Services (SCILS), a program at The First Occupational Center of New Jersey (OCNJ) dedicated to helping seniors with visions impairments. He soon found enjoyment in helping clients with bills, food shopping and encouraging them to be independent. It also helps him to realize how blessed he really is.

“I want to feel that because of my help, someone can now move on and do things for themselves,” he added.
The Senior Community Independent Living Services (SCILS) is a partnership between OCNJ and the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  Seniors over the age of 55 who live in Essex and Ocean Counties are eligible to receive SCILS services free of charge.

SCILS services include information and referral, vision screening, low vision aids and devices, assessment of orientation and mobility, home instruction in personal care and daily living activities, volunteer companions, self-help support groups and community services advocacy. Anyone interested in becoming a SCILS volunteer can contact Program Manager Joe Ruffalo at 973-672-5800.

The First Occupational Center of New Jersey is the state’s oldest and largest vocational and job placement agency, providing services to the developmentally and physically challenged, economically disadvantaged, and visually impaired seniors.  The non-profit agency uses an entrepreneurial approach to training and securing jobs with the goal of helping workers transition from dependence to independence. The Center provides jobs through its seven wholly-owned and operated companies, including Recycling, Building Management Services and Groundskeeping,  Production and Printing Services, Document Scanning & Micrographics, FCDC Construction, Abbry Security, and the OCNJ Driving School, as well as placing its graduates in businesses within the community.