The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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Hetlinger Developmental Services has found another successful way to bring business and draw attention to the services at its sheltered workshop.

Several years ago, Hetlinger acquired screen-printing equipment that allowed them to print T-shirts and other garments for the public. The business operated in fits and starts on a small customer base, sometimes requiring only a day or two a week to keep pace.

Then, suddenly, business burgeoned.

“In the last year, it’s really taken off,” said Tammy Maley, director of day services at Hetlinger.

Hetlinger sells the finished products to schools, local politicians, churches, soccer and other sports teams, Emporia State University and sororities.

“We have one sorority that calls us all the time,” she said, singling out Beta Lambda Alpha as a steady customer. “Almost every elementary, high school and junior high have ordered from us.”

The largest order came from agencies that needed shirts for “push day” at the Kansas Legislature. The day is set aside for agencies that deal with developmentally disabled people to “push” for additional funding.

“There was agencies from all over the state, and we ended up doing over 800,” Maley said.

Hetlinger direct-care professional Rick Robertson, who had experience in screen printing, helped with set-up and training to help get the printing operation established.

The business provides work for several Hetlinger clients who are trained on the screen-printing machines. Other clients pick up the finished products and fold them for boxing. Sandra Hopkins, a direct-care professional, serves as head screen printer, as well as bus driver and assistant for Hetlinger clients.

Hopkins sets up the print jobs and makes sure they’re locked in and ready to print accurately for as many passes as it takes. Darker-colored garments, she said, need two or three passes through the screen printer — with flash-drying in-between passes — to make sure the designs are bright and legible.

The workshop produces designs on a variety of garments, including sweatshirts and hoodies, sweat pants, canvass bags, “onesies” and long-sleeved T-shirts. The latter service came through the cooperation of Bernie Toso of Bad Ol’ Bern’s restaurant, who donated money to help buy the equipment to print on sleeves, Maley said.

“We do the front and we can do the back, too,” said Dale Childears, a Hetlinger client who works in the print shop.

The agency needs another piece of equipment before workers can produce screen-printed hats.

“If anybody wants to donate one, we’d be glad to take it,” Maley added.

Hetlinger sells the shirts and other garments, in addition to printing on them. The total charge is $5.50 for a T-shirt printed in one color on one side, for example. Double- and triple-X sizes cost $2 more per shirt, and additional charges are accrued for printing on multiple sides.

Hetlinger’s waives the set-up fee on orders of 12 items or more.

Hetlinger public relations and communications director Stacie Flanner designs shirts for customers who need that service. The workshop charges $20 per hour for her designs, which usually are completed within one hour, Maley said.

A full list of prices is available from Maley by calling 342-1087.

“We’re not here to make a bunch of money. We’re here to create jobs for our clients,” Maley said. “The most important thing is, it provides jobs. Any time we can find a job that they can do, that’s what’s important.”