Yep.  You read that right.  Ten minutes worth of charity and pretending they aren't the enemies of everything good and holy in this world.  On my mark... and... mark.

For six months (ish) in early 2005 I worked for the Michigan House of Representatives.  Plenty of great people around the House Office Building and one thing new employees notice pretty quickly once they're on the job, there's something different about many of the men and women handling some of the janitorial tasks around the complex.

The Peckham Organization is an employment group in mid-Michigan that works with folks most don't consider employable.  They train and supervise Michiganders with special needs to work, produce and earn a living.

One of their job sites is the HOB and they do fantastic work!  More than that, the twenty men and women on-site become a part of the "family" around the building.  They become friends.  

Every year members and legislative staff around the House get together and collect donations above and beyond the wage the Peckham employees bring home and use that money to purchase for them gift certificates to Meijer.  

This isn't something you're going to see a press release about.  It isn't mandated by a rule of the legislature and a bill never moved through the chamber discussing it.  It isn't anything you'll probably be able to get any member to even go on record discussing.  Its just something they do.  

Last week House employees hosted a banquet for the Peckham staff to say "thank you" and presented them with their gift certificates.  Despite the tough economy and belt tightening in their own homes and with their own budgets, they raised over $3,000, double the normal amount.

Each Peckham employee received a $100 gift card to Meijer and a $50 gift card to the State Plate, a cafeteria of sorts on the first floor of the HOB.  

What accounted for the record giving?  Impossible to say for sure, but a little friendly competition never hurts... This year the House conducted a contest pitting the Republican Minority against the Democrat Majority.  The results broke out like this...

Republican Reps and Elect - $1,315
Republican Staff - $565
Total: $1,880

Democrat Reps and Elect - $529
Democrat Staff - $446
Total: $975

Nonpartisan Staff - $160

And the winner is... the twenty great men and women working around the HOB via the Peckham organization.  

If you'd like more information about the group, to make a donation yourself or to enquire about hiring a few awesome new employees yourself, you can check them out at Peckham.org.