People in Day Services at Farmingdale 1 headed to the West Babylon Bricks & Minifigs store on March 30 to surprise franchise owner Rachel Joffe with the Heart of the Community Award.
“I cried because I was really moved,” said Rachel, who has been supporting the AHRC community for the past two years. “I love when they come. It just feels really good for people to know they are appreciated.”
Rachel is a lifelong social worker and the owner of a Bricks & Minifigs franchise, a national chain that specializes in buying, selling, and trading LEGO products.
Over the winter, the people at Farmingdale were invited to have their lunch at the store. While taking turns heating up their food in the lunchroom, people enjoyed building LEGO structures and letting their imagination run wild. They also joined the community at four separate events, where Rachel encouraged expressing themselves through building.
“I’d say, ‘Show me through LEGO something that reminds me of you’,” Rachel said. “They were really very creative with what they shared. It was really cool. They made gardens, a baseball stadium, even a dump truck with cars.”
With her store, Rachel provides a dedicated space for creation and play for people of all abilities. Her store welcomes community groups for events and skills building.
“LEGO is a really therapeutic toy that helps in so many different ways,” Rachel said. “It really helps them, especially to hyper focus. I sort of tapped into the secondary benefit of LEGO.”
Along with people supported at AHRC, Rachel has welcomed provider agencies, schools, and SEPTA groups to practice new skills in the store. A primary task is sorting LEGO bricks—a necessity for the store and a hands-on, mindfulness practice for visitors.
Rachel aims to make her store as accessible as possible. She routinely hosts sensory friendly events and throws birthday parties for people with special needs. She wants people to know her store is a welcome space to play, relax, and be creative.
“We really appreciate all opportunities to take part in our community,” Rachel said. “That’s how we’ve been able to grow. That’s my favorite part.”