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WAY Program

WAY Program: Vocational support & training for all


The Work Appreciation for Youth (WAY) program provides a person-centered approach to helping youth and young adults understand the value of education and work while they develop the skills to achieve both academic and personal success.


Program Highlights:

  • SCHOOL BASED ENTERPRISE - Students design and create products to be sold through the WAY Program and its online catalog. Young people develop 21st-century skills and foster creativity while creating handmade greeting cards, custom T-shirts and water bottles and more!


  • WORK-BASED LEARNING - Beginning at age 14, students have the opportunity to participate in both community based and agency based worksites.  Students continue to develop soft skills, while also learning skills specific to different industries, including food service, hospitality, retail, manufacturing and housekeeping.


  • TRANSITION SERVICES - Through the WAY program, students create transition plans for post-secondary school life.  WAY works with students and families to determine appropriate service linkage on a client-centered level.  WAY ensures that students are linked with appropriate services through ACCES-VR, OPWDD, and OMH.


  • LUNCHWAY CAFE - Students and worksite mentors operate the LunchWAY Cafe, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Students offer daily specials and homemade soups at 790 Ridge Road in Lackawanna, while practicing food preparation, customer service, order-taking, and money management.


  • CATERING YOUR WAY - The WAY program offers a full-service catering menu to make your event special!  Students learn the ins and outs of the catering and hospitality business while working with mentors to meet customer needs, whether that's boxed lunches for 10 or dinner for 50!


  • MAZUREK'S BAKERY - OLV Human Services acquired Mazurek's Bakery, located in the Old First Ward, in June of 2020. There, students participate in career exploration, while serving customers in the community Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.


For more information, contact Marga McMahon at mmcmahon@olvhs.org or (716) 828-7004.

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