FAIRMONT — “We were supposed to be celebrating our 60th year, and instead we’re at a place where we’re just hoping to make it through the year at all.”

That was the sentiment expressed by Sue Eisenmenger, executive director of STEP Inc., concerning the status of the organization that has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

STEP is a non-profit agency licensed by the Department of Human Services to provide employment and day services for people with disabilities. Over the years, it has operated under various names: Martin County Association for Retarded Children, Day Activity Center, Developmental Achievement Center. In 1987, the agency became STEP Inc. which now has a site in Blue Earth and three in Fairmont at 5 Downtown Plaza, 703 Cory Lane and 411 S. State St.

“We have about 100 clients right now. The area that’s been growing the last few years has been employment services,” Eisenmenger said. “We work with about 30 different employers.”

Businesses hire groups of STEP clients to do various chores, such as cleaning, which the crews do under the guidance of a staff supervisor.

“We still do a lot of that, but we’re moving into more individualized jobs,” she said. “We probably have a dozen people who have been hired directly by the employers, but we do provide support staff if needed.”

Some of the clients work at one of the step sites and make dog treats and fire starters or handle paper shredding services.

The on-site jobs ended March 18 when they were closed according to the governor’s executive order. Those clients with employment at other sites have continued working if their employers maintained their normal operations.

The loss of their jobs has been devastating to the STEP clients.

“It’s been very difficult for them,” Eisenmenger said. “I know everybody’s got stories. Everybody is going through hard times, but this is impacting people with disabilities as much as the general community, maybe a little more. I think people need to remember that.

“The thing is that for people with disabilities, other people are making the decisions for them. They aren’t making their own decisions. It’s hard for them to be sitting at home when they are used to being out working with their friends.”

About 30 of the STEP clients live with their families with the remainder residing in group homes. The COVID-19 business shutdowns created a problem for all the living situations because the STEP clients were gone during the day, working at their jobs, so the group homes didn’t require staffing and the family homes had flexibility.

The irony of the entire situation is that STEP had a preparedness plan to continue operating in case of such an occurrence, a plan that was scrapped when DHS directed the sites to be closed.

“They made the decision they thought was safe,” Eisenmenger said. “We want all our people to be safe, but on the other hand, they’re not doing anything to help us get through this situation so we’ll be there on the other side when people do need our services again.”

She estimated that STEP was one of about 120 agencies statewide that focused on services for people with disabilities. Many have closed. STEP has tried to secure state and federal grants to keep operating during the shutdown, but so far, no funds have been approved.

“We get a combination of state and federal money, but we don’t get paid unless we actually provide a service,” she said. “We’ve gone from a revenue of about $90,000 a month to about $22,000 a month. It’s created a huge issue for us, obviously. It’s blowing up our whole system.”

The organization has a 501(c)3 non-profit tax status so it can accept donations. The possibility of a fundraiser also has been discussed.

“We’re hoping this is temporary. We will go as long as we can go without getting funding of some kind, and I hope employers consider hiring people with disabilities,” Eisenmenger said.

But these challenging times have highlighted a bright spot in the STEP employment program.

“The people we have working in the community are very valued,” Eisenmenger said. “We have a wonderful relationship with Lakeview (Methodist Health Care Center), and our people working there have really been the essential workers. They have helped Lakeview considerably with their needs. They are some of the heroes, the front line workers in dietary and laundry services.

“It has become clear to us, what we have been doing, it’s working. Our clients are part of the community, and they are an important part of the workforce.”

For more information on STEP and its programs, call (407) 238-4341.