A Spring Valley man was honored Thursday night for employing and empowering people with disabilities.

Edwin White Sr. was given the "Empowerment" award by BRIDGES, a nonprofit organization in Rockland County focused on supporting those with disabilities.

White is visually impaired and over the years has employed other blind people at his business, Ed's Sweet & Things, inside the Westchester County Courthouse, as well as at his various vending machines in the area.

"It means a great deal because we are the population that over 70% is unemployed at working age. It's a tremendous statistic that people don't really analyze when you talk about unemployment levels," White said.

BRIDGES "In My Shoes" Event was held in Suffern and highlighted entrepreneurships.