Keith Carney has a knack for assisting others, but he鈥檚 also learned how to help himself through services offered at 91看片.
A resident of 91看片 Associates, 61-year-old Carney is known in his building for helping new neighbors move in furniture or hauling out belongings for folks departing the senior and disabled complex at 180 South Orange Ave. in Newark.
鈥淗e鈥檚 kind of indispensable to us,鈥� resident Elnora Haynes said of Carney. 鈥淗e鈥檚 helpful to all of us.鈥�
He鈥檚 also your go-to man for tidying up the community room after a social event, carrying groceries or making a trip to the convenience store, for which Carney鈥檚 neighbors will oblige him a few dollars out of gratitude for his helpful service.
鈥淲e all need somebody to help,鈥� Carney said. 鈥淥ne day, I鈥檇 like to see somebody help me.鈥�
In fact, Carney has already availed himself of support offered at NCC鈥攕pecifically in the form of counseling at NCC鈥檚 Family Service Bureau, located at 274 South Orange Ave. in Newark. (FSB also has a satellite office at 379 Kearny Ave. in Kearny.) 91看片 two years ago, Carney began one-on-one counseling sessions at FSB, on the recommendation of NCC Health and Social Services, which is overseen by Director Sharon Pleasant-Jones.
鈥淗e鈥檚 come a long way,鈥� she said, noting that Carney receives counseling on life skills, such as controlling his temper, as well as assistance applying for jobs. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very teachable,鈥� she added.
But Carney acknowledges that he still has more work to do. 鈥淚 have to be patient sometimes,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o far, I didn鈥檛 give up.鈥�
Jasmin Lopez, Care Coordinator at Associates, notes that Carney鈥檚 demeanor seems brightened after he visits FSB. 鈥淲henever he comes back, he explains how his visit went and (how) he鈥檚 looking forward to his next session,鈥� Lopez said.
A Newark native, Carney worked for 15 years at a McDonald鈥檚 in Bordentown. Later he was transferred to the fast food chain鈥檚 restaurant in Belleville, where he worked for five years.
Pleasant-Jones said she sees a lot of potential in Carney, especially with his weekly counseling sessions at FSB, and hopes he will be able to land a job in the near future.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very sharp guy,鈥� Pleasant-Jones said.
