South Philadelphia, New Jersey Popcorn Plants Grant Meaningful Employment to Adults with Autism

A regional popcorn facility is offering meaningful job opportunities to adults with autism through Popcorn for the People. 

The nonprofit Popcorn for the People employs adults with disabilities in South Philadelphia and Piscataway, New Jersey. For individuals like Liam D'Aquila, 30, fulfilling popcorn orders at the Philadelphia location has helped empower him professionally. He explained that he went six months without a job after losing one due to a PTSD-triggering event.

"Twelve years before I found this job… I finally found one I liked," he said. "A lot of places aren't too understanding. But as you can see, we can do stuff too! You don't feel so alone here," he told CBS News Philadelphia in an interview.

Popcorn for the People sells various gourmet popcorn flavors, including caramel, cheddar, kettle corn, cookies and cream, and dark chocolate espresso. All flavors are made in-house at the nonprofit's production facilities.

D'Aquila said he enjoys the popcorn so much that he and another friend nicknamed each other "munch" and "crunch" to recognize their shared love of popcorn.

Marcus Johnson, another Popcorn for the People employee, said that working at the nonprofit has bolstered his confidence.

"I believe in myself because I have faith in me and everybody," Johnson told CBS News Philadelphia. "The more we work together as a team, we [are] unstoppable and stronger together."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77% of adults with disabilities are unemployed.