Hilltoppers Incorporated celebrating 50 years of service to the Crossville area this year.
The community non-profit provider provides day services, residential services, and vocational services to adults with intellectual and other disabilities. Hilltoppers Executive Director Janine Houston said for 50 years, Hilltoppers has helped adults with disabilities achieve goals, no matter how big or small the goal is.
“They may want to do something as simple as learning to read, write their name, or identify themselves to others in the community, so it’s very specific to the person, and we try our best to help them,” Houston said.
Houston said that before Hilltoppers Incorporated formation in 1975, services for adults with disabilities in the Crossville area did not exist. Houston said it has been a blessing to be able to serve the Crossville community for 50 years.
“We’ve had a lot of people who have supported us and funded us and have been our voice, and we want the community to know that we appreciate anything you have done to help us throughout this 50 years,” Houston said. “we hope that the next 50 years will be even better.”
Houston said Hilltoppers Incorporated has an estimated 250 employees and serves an estimated 125 clients and their families. Houston said there is a big need for the services that Hilltoppers provides.
“There are people transitioning from school who need adult services, there are people we have found that are homeless that have disabilities, there are people in jail who need our services, so our referrals come from a lot of different places, and the need is fairly great,” Houston said.
Houston said seeing clients accomplish goals just puts a smile on her face. Houston said Hilltoppers Incorporated considers everyone they work with a friend, and that they always want them to do well, no matter the goal.
