PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK FERRY
Homemade soaps are available for purchase individually or as a gift basket at the Worcester County Developmental Center. Profits from these sales provides employment for adults with intellectual disabilities.

By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Dec. 20, 2018) Clients of the Worcester County Developmental Center in Newark, Maryland, are again making unique, scented and festive soap baskets for the holiday season.

Different soap styles are available, including seashells, shorebirds, crabs, starfish, seahorses, sea turtles and sand dollars, ranging in sizes from 2-7 ounces.

“Our classic green soap contains seaweed from the Ocean City bays which acts as an exfoliant,” Jack Ferry, executive director of the Worcester County Developmental Center, said. “The soap is a plant-based glycerin soap that is very soothing for your skin. Glycerin attracts moisture, so using this soap does not dry out your skin as some other soaps do.”

Prices range from $4 for the round, 2-ounce soap bar to $30 for the special-order holiday gift baskets, which come with seven soaps of different sizes and shapes.

Clients can also customize the soap colors to match any décor, and the products come in a gift-wrapped organza bag. Each gift basket includes information about the clients who put it together.

“We can customize orders to match a bride’s wedding colors or any color you would like,” Ferry said. “Our soaps are carried by more than 20 retail outlets in the Ocean City, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach areas during the summer season.”

Last year, the Worcester County Developmental Center sold 37 baskets along with several individual bars and gift sets, Ferry said.

“Your skin will thank you for using Inner Ocean soap,” Ferry said. “It is made locally, so you help a local, small business with your purchase, and because your purchase and support of Inner Ocean creates meaningful employment for adults with intellectual disabilities in the area.”

The Worcester County Developmental Center’s mission is to empower people with intellectual disabilities to achieve economic and social independence by providing work opportunities and a support system.

This is the fourth holiday season of sales and clients have been making soaps for five years.

Purchase soaps year-round and learn more about the Worcester County Developmental Center by visiting www.wcdcservices.org or call 410-632-2382.