This summer, NECC received a donation of flatware from ANNOVA, serving as a powerful reminder that meaningful support comes in many forms.

When an NECC staff member reached out to the company in urgent need of new forks after noticing the students tended to throw them away, he didn’t expect a response quite like the one he received. Instead of simply sending a few forks, ANNOVA, a California-based company specializing in thoughtfully designed tableware, donated 40 full sets of flatware, as well as globes and organizers for NECC’s teachers to use in the classrooms and residences.

“NECC’s work and mission resonates with me deeply, as some of my family members have autism,” shared Skye Ding, founder and creator of ANNOVA. “My roots have inspired me to give back to the autistic community.”

In 2018, Ding launched the California-based company to add color and joy to every meal. Ding shared that when designing ANNOVA’s flatware, she did so with her family members and other individuals with autism in mind; she designed ANNOVA’s flatware with easy-to-hold handles, thoughtfully considering the sensory and functional needs of this population.

“ANNOVA really appreciates what NECC contributes to the autism community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to give back to them,” she added.

At NECC, where every detail — from teaching strategies to dining utensils — can impact a student’s learning and comfort, this donation has made an immediate difference.