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Christmas at Mays Mission: The Gift That Changes Lives

Mays Mission Employee with disability with Christmas cards in the background, Christmas nativity on display

Christmas is a season filled with lights, music, and moments of joy—but at its heart, Christmas is about giving.

At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, giving looks a little different. It’s not about what’s wrapped under a tree. It’s about showing up. It’s about compassion in action. It’s about making sure individuals with disabilities are seen, valued, and supported—not just during the holidays, but every day of the year.

For the people we serve, a simple act of generosity can mean the difference between isolation and belonging. It can mean access to care, adaptive equipment, safe housing, or opportunities that many take for granted. Your generosity helps provide dignity, independence, and hope to individuals and families who face challenges most of us never have to consider.

During Christmas, we’re reminded of the greatest gift ever given—one rooted in love, sacrifice, and service to others. That same spirit drives our mission. When you give to Mays Mission, you’re helping us continue programs that empower individuals with disabilities to live fuller, more joyful lives. You’re becoming part of a community that believes everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compassion.

Giving also creates a ripple effect. One act of kindness spreads to families, caregivers, and entire communities. It turns generosity into lasting impact—long after the decorations come down and the season ends.

This Christmas, we invite you to reflect on what giving truly means. Whether through a donation, volunteering, sharing our mission, or keeping our community in your prayers, your support matters more than you know.

From all of us at Mays Mission for the Handicapped, thank you for being part of our story. Your generosity is a gift that changes lives.

Merry Christmas and blessings to you and your loved ones.

Mays Mission employee with disabilities working with festive holiday decorations on display

Visiting nursing homes will bring smiles to the faces of some lonely people.  You can bring home baked cookies, sing Christmas carols, or even read the Christmas Story to them. Just check with the activities director first.

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Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Over 50 Years of Opportunity and Inclusion

Employees with disabilities working at Mays Mission

Each October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) — a time to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities and to promote inclusive employment practices across all industries.

This year’s observance reminds us that inclusion works — not only for individuals with disabilities but for communities and businesses everywhere. When people of all abilities have access to meaningful work, everyone benefits. Diverse workplaces foster creativity, problem-solving, and compassion — values that strengthen both organizations and society as a whole.

At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, we have been putting these principles into action for over fifty years. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, Mays Mission provides on-the-job training and employment for individuals with disabilities. Through these programs, participants gain valuable skills, experience, and confidence that help open doors to greater independence and success.

Hiring individuals with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a smart investment in talent, dedication, and perspective. People with disabilities bring unique strengths and experiences to the workplace, helping employers create environments that are more innovative and inclusive for all.

As we celebrate NDEAM, we encourage employers, community leaders, and individuals alike to recognize the value of a diverse workforce — and to take steps toward ensuring that everyone has a chance to contribute.

At Mays Mission, we’re proud to continue our work in building opportunities and changing lives. Together, we can make inclusion not just a goal, but a reality.

To learn more about our mission, programs, and how you can get involved, call us toll free: 888-503-7955, or locally at 501-362-7526, or email us at info@maysmission.org today. Thank you for your support!

Hire the disabled and let them into the workforce.

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Making the Workplace More Inclusive for Individuals with Disabilities

Employees with disabilities working at Mays Mission

Creating an inclusive workplace benefits everyone. At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, we often receive questions about how to best support individuals with disabilities on the job. The good news is that making your workplace more welcoming doesn’t have to be complicated—sometimes small actions make the biggest difference.

Here are a few simple but important guidelines to keep in mind:

  • Don’t make assumptions. If you’re unsure what to say, what terminology to use, or whether assistance is needed, the best approach is to ask the individual directly.
  • Remember that disabilities vary. A person with a disability may excel in many areas of life—never assume limitations across the board.
  • Offer help respectfully. Always ask before jumping in. Even if someone appears to be struggling, they may prefer to complete the task independently.
  • Remove barriers. Look around your workplace for potential obstacles that could impact mobility, vision, or hearing, and take steps to eliminate them.
  • Use people-first language. Say “person with a disability” rather than “disabled person.” Language shapes perception, and focusing on the person first emphasizes dignity and respect.
  • Highlight abilities. Shift the focus away from what someone cannot do and instead emphasize what they can do.

By applying these principles, you help foster an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.

If you’d like more guidance, Mays Mission offers free brochures—Making Your Community More Accessible and The Americans With Disabilities Act—produced by our employees with disabilities. To request copies, call us, message us, or email info@maysmission.org. Together, we can create more inclusive workplaces and stronger communities.

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Tips for Driving as an Amputee

Pictured is our founder E.W. Mays next to his car

Driving is often seen as a symbol of freedom and independence, but for millions of individuals around the world living as an amputee, it can also represent a unique set of challenges and triumphs. Driving with an amputation often comes with physical and financial complexities that other drivers don’t face. Here is a very informative guide someone recently shared with us and we wanted to share with all of our supporters as well:

Tips for Driving as an Amputee


This article is republished from a third-party source for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and we disclaim any liability arising from its use. Readers should consult a qualified attorney for personalized guidance.

Thanks for checking it out and if you would like more information on helping individuals with disabilities call us or email us at info@maysmission.org today. 

Learn to put people first, not their disability!

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Carrying on a Tradition of Compassion: Nursing Home Visits with Mays Mission

Images of Mays Mission Veterans Home visits and Nursing Home visits

At Mays Mission for the Handicapped, one of our most cherished traditions is visiting residents at Veterans Homes and nursing facilities—a mission that began many years ago with our founder, Ewing Mays.

Ewing Mays, a double amputee and World War II veteran, lost both legs during a mortar explosion in Sicily. But he never lost his spirit. Throughout his life, Ewing remained committed to uplifting others, especially wounded soldiers and disabled veterans. He believed deeply in the power of human connection, compassion, and hope. His visits to veterans hospitals and nursing homes were more than just acts of kindness—they were powerful reminders that no one is forgotten.

Today, we are proud to continue that tradition.

This year, Mays Mission has sent out countless ‘Gift Paks’—hand-assembled by our employees with disabilities—to volunteers across the country to distribute to nursing home and veterans home residents. Each Gift Pak includes thoughtful items like stationery and writing supplies, created with care by individuals in our on-the-job training program. These small tokens of kindness often spark big smiles and meaningful conversations.

Closer to home, our team members, Vince and David, have made it a regular practice to visit veterans at a local nursing home every few weeks. These visits are filled with laughter, shared stories, and a genuine bond formed over topics like fishing and baseball. For David, who is also part of our job training program, these visits are especially fulfilling. “It just makes me feel good,” he says. “You can tell they appreciate it, and I always leave feeling better myself.”

We believe that everyone has the power to brighten someone’s day. Even a short visit or a friendly conversation can make a lasting difference to someone who may be feeling lonely or forgotten.

We encourage you—yes, you—to consider reaching out in your own community. If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering, we’d be happy to send you a free copy of our brochure, The Spirit of Giving. And if you’d like to join us in distributing ‘Gift Paks’ to residents in your area, we’d love to hear from you.

You can reach us at info@maysmission.org or give us a call. Together, we can continue this beautiful tradition of compassion, connection, and care—just as Ewing Mays intended.

Thank you for your support, and for helping us share hope, one visit at a time.

Mays Mission volunteers visiting a disabled veteran in a veterans home

Visiting nursing homes will bring smiles to the faces of some lonely people. 

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April is National Volunteer Month

A photo featuring Mays Mission employees at the special Olympics and a phot from one of our Veterans Home Tours

April is National Volunteer Month and the week of April 20th-26th 2025 has been set aside as National Volunteer Week.  This year, as in all previous years, we have the opportunity to recognize those within our communities who freely give their time in unpaid work.

National Volunteer Week was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1974 as a way of honoring these amazing volunteers and thanking them for donating their time to charitable causes and to bring attention to services that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the U.S.  In 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor reports that over 77.3 million people volunteered through an organization at least once.  And there are undoubtedly millions more who did volunteer works without doing so through a formal organization.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped has long recognized the importance of volunteers.  Since 1997 we have supported a Faith in Action Caregivers Alliance in which we call upon volunteers within our community to provide caregiving and other services to the frail elderly and disabled.  This program could not have succeeded without volunteers.

Mays Mission employees have also volunteered to help other organizations thereby helping to foster and support the spirit of volunteerism within our local community.

This April would be a great time to volunteer in your community. Your time is a gift! If you need some ideas on how to help, on Monday Mays Mission employees visited with veterans at a nursing home passing out some of our ‘gift paks’ containing stationary and the residents loved it. We can also provide you with free brochures full of ideas and information like ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ and ‘Faith In Action Caregivers Alliance’ at no cost to you. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission who would love for you to have them. Just call us or email us at info@maysmission.org and let us know. Thank you!

A photo from one of our Veteran's Home tours visiting with veterans with disabilities
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February is “Heart Awareness Month”

An active older woman making a heart gesture

February is “Heart Awareness Month” and Valentine’s Day brings to mind a time to show our love to those we care about. In addition, February has become associated with the Random Acts of Kindness program. Random acts of kindness are especially appreciated by caregivers, the elderly and those in hospitals and nursing homes.

Here are some suggestions to make this a special time of year. Most can be adapted to individuals as well as the various care facilities in your community:

              Volunteer to read out loud to individuals or care                             facility groups.

              Drop in for a chat and bring a treat such as a                                   ready-to-heat casserole.

              Arrange for a two-hour housecleaning session.

              Volunteer to take an elderly neighbor out to run                              errands.

              Send scenic postcards to patients in a local care                              facility that don’t have any relatives.

              If you have musical talents, volunteer to lead a                               sing-along session at a local care facility.

              Enjoy baking? Drop off a plate of cookies or some                          cupcakes.

              Enjoy gardening? Help a neighbor plant or weed                             their garden.

For more great ideas on volunteering call us or email us at info@maysmission.org for free copies of our brochures ‘Faith In Action Care Givers Alliance’ or ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ today. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission for the Handicapped.

a photo of a camper from our summer camp program and photos of smiling Mays Mission employees from our job training program
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A new year

A Mays Mission employee from our job training program

We are now a few weeks into this new year. Right now some good questions to ask might be “What did we accomplish last year?  Are we better off in any way than we were 365 days ago?  What can we do in this new year we have embarked upon to improve our lives and the way we live?”  Better yet, what can we do to improve the lives of others, especially those with disabilities?

The dictionary describes an “advocate” as one who publicly supports or suggests an idea, development or way of doing something.

Here at Mays Mission, our primary goal is to aid and assist people with disabilities.  Yes, putting to work those who may have difficulty finding gainful employment is one facet of our purpose yet there is so much more.

Public education regarding the abilities and capabilities of people with disabilities is of utmost importance.  You see, through our various programs and direct mail, we have the opportunity to inform and educate the public throughout the country that given the opportunity, people with disabilities can become productive citizens.

We have seen scores of people with a variety of disabilities come and go here at Mays Mission while others have chosen to stay with us.  It’s heartwarming to know that some have bought their own homes, learned to drive and purchased automobiles, while some have moved on to bigger and better opportunities.  Seeing people succeed and become more independent where at one time hope seemed lost is an indescribable feeling.

We’ve set out goal; to aid and assist people with disabilities.  Won’t you please join us?  Email us at info@maysmission.org to learn more about our programs and see how you can be an advocate for people with disabilities this year. And your comments are always welcome in the comment section. Thanks!

photos of former Mays Mission employees from our job training program, one of them engaged in wheelchair tennis
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We have only begun our work

A photo of a camper from our summer camp program, a photo of employees with disabilities in our job training program, and our founder Ewing Mays and a quote from Ewing Mays 'We have only begun our work'

As our founder E.W. Mays said, “We have only begun our work.” Great strides have been made over the past five decades – about the time Mays Mission was founded. We have seen the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet statistics show a vast majority of disabled individuals cannot find employment.

We feel that most employers meet the disability before they meet the person – that is to say that we, as humans, have a terrible habit of “judging a book by it’s cover,” assuming that an individual with an obvious disability is not suited for employment or simply cannot do the job. How wrong we are.

We encourage you to ask an employer if they have considered hiring individuals with disabilities. You could be the one that makes a difference in the life of a physically or mentally challenged individual.

If you would like more information, please call us at 1-888-503-7955 or email us at info@maysmission.org. Let’s all help make an employer aware of the potential of people with disabilities.

Hire individuals with disabilities and let them into the work force! Various photos of Mays Mission employees from our job training program for individuals with disabilities
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“Who Were Those Wise Men?”

Photos of Mays Mission employees from our job training program, a traditional painting of the three wise men

Here at Mays Mission, we love to receive Christmas cards from our friends. We tape them up on the walls for decoration so everyone can enjoy them. Many of the Christmas cards will have the manger scene which almost always includes the star above the manger. Some will have the three wise men, or Magi, or kings, bringing their gifts to baby Jesus. But just who are those three guys? We did a little research just so we can tell you what we learned about them.


The Bible tells about these “Magi” in Matthew. Here’s what we know for certain:

They were astrologers.


They came from the east.

They recognized the new star as fulfillment of ancient prophecy proclaiming that the long-awaited Messiah had finally come to earth.
They traveled thousands of miles to bring gifts to the new-born Messiah and to worship him.


That’s about it! Tradition and history can add some possibilities of great interest concerning these Magi. The Magi were a religious caste and one of the six tribes of Media (an ancient kingdom located in what is now northern Iran). Our modern day word magician comes from the magi because they were known for practicing magic. They also interpreted omens and dreams and offered astrological sacrifices. Before Jesus, they worshiped only the elements, fire, air, earth and water, especially fire.


We don’t really know how many of them there were. Scholars based the “three” on their three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh they brought with them to give to baby Jesus. These men were truly wise men because they went looking for God. They didn’t expect God to come looking for them. They recognized baby Jesus as the Messiah for the entire world—not just for the Jews. They took gifts to the Messiah—they didn’t expect God to give them gifts.


Those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for what they can get—but for who He is.


The family of Mays Mission wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas. If you would like to help us advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities in your area call us or email us at info@maysmission.org and we can send you free brochures to pass out in your community. These brochures were produced by individuals with disabilities here at Mays Mission.

Mays Mission Employees with disabilities working in our bindery department