On Thursday, Aug. 7, Scenic Rivers Industries, Inc. invited the community to attend its annual open house at its location at 1200 South Babb Lane. Community members were able to enjoy light refreshments and a tour of the facility, where crew members showed what they’ve been up to, including new developments like a community garden, cardboard recycling, laser engraving, and making handcrafted items including cat toys, fishing kits, and garden décor that the facility has been selling not only at its facility, but local craft shows around Missouri.
Currently, SRI, Inc. employs three full-time staff members, one part-time staff member and thirty-two certified employees. SRI, Inc. provides about 48,000 hours of training and employment opportunities annually to the disabled individuals it employs, as well as providing recreational opportunities.
Giving the tour was new manager Justin Gilbert, a worker with the facility since 2020, who introduced the public to crew members and ongoing projects throughout the facility.
The public was able to view the community garden, located on the side of the building. Crew members care for a robust selection of vegetables, including watering and harvesting. In discussion for development is donating grown produce to a local organization next year. Hundreds of seed packets for a variety of produce were given to SRI, Inc. by another sheltered workshop located in Camdenton, whose greenhouses were recently damaged. Crew members are currently in the process of sorting the seed packets for utilization in the community garden.
Another project in development involves laser engraving, which Gilbert shared was going to eventually be worked into the bird houses SRI, Inc. has for sale, along with other crafted goods such as keychains.
Just announced at its open house on Thursday, Aug. 7, the facility now invites the public to drop-off cardboard, paper, and aluminum cans for recycling on a 18-foot trailer located outside of the facility. The trailer will be left outside and accessible to the public Monday, 8 a.m. through Thursday, 4 p.m. Magazines will not be accepted, due to storage limitations. A sign will be placed on the front of the trailer designating it as a recycling drop-off location.
To place an order for one of SRI’s many offerings, be sure to call 573-729-6264 or stop by the facility at 1200 South Babb Lane from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While the sheltered workshop is back up and running, the fire that burned down its building on Dec. 17, 2024, was a devastating loss. While it works to bring its past services back to the community, it remains innovative by building handcrafted goods, like its fishing lure kits and backyard décor, that can be sold at local craft shows and its shelves. Visit the SRI, Inc. wish list on Amazon or Walmart to help it purchase supplies for its handcrafted goods.
