Three special Arc Thrift Store employees will be honored as part of the company's annual fundraising gala on Sept. 7.
Elnaz Sobhi, Elleana Tate and Tim Yoakum are Arc employees and ambassadors, which means they're part of a special program for employees with disabilities.
Sobhi has been featured on Denver7 as an ambassador of the month. In addition to working at the Centennial Arc Thrift Store, she is the secretary for the Ambassador Civitan International volunteer group. Sobhi is also a student at Arapahoe Community College.
Tate is a beloved member of the team at the Littleton Arc Thrift Store. She loves her friends at the store and helps make their jobs easier. Her mother Faye says Elleana loves to talk and doesn't know a stranger. Despite her visual impairment, she's also very good at tagging items with the correct color tags.
Yoakum is quieter, but just as dedicated of a worker. His parents Mark and Bev Yoakum say his job has given him independence and a sense of pride. He rides the bus to work on his own, and earns his own money.
The Take Flight, Let's Soar gala on Sept. 7 will raise money to help Arc Thrift Stores in its mission to advocate for people with disabilities.