Five days a week, 38-year-old Jeff Reno hops onto the Dial-a-Ride bus to one of Brentwood’s parks and recreation facilities, where he picks up trash, cleans the restrooms and generally assists staff in maintaining the public grounds.

Dwayne Green has much the same schedule, riding the bus each day to a designated location where he meets up with Reno and a dozen or so other workers for an eight-hour shift.

“It’s a good job; I like it,” said Green, 30. “It pays me well and I like the work.”

Green and Reno are part of the Future's Explored program, a statewide nonprofit organization that for more than 45 years has helped individuals with physical and mental disabilities earn their keep and build their confidence through a variety of work and social-skills programs.

But due to recent state reductions that have sliced $2.1 million off the nonprofit’s annual East County operating budget, the future of Future’s program is at risk. Heather Hackett, program director for the East County program, says the cuts are about more than lost dollars.

“Our organization provides a variety of services to our clients aside from their jobs, including domestic care, shopping, help with checkbook work and banking and medications,” said Hackett. “What’s going to happen to their lives outside of work is that they may lose some of those services, and that’s a huge blow to their quality of life. We’re used to receiving cuts each year, but this is the worst yet.”

The Future’s Explored program is funded by the Regional Center of the East Bay, and supplemented with matching state dollars. As a result of the cuts, Future’s staff is scrambling to sustain the quality of services essential to the program.

“Of course we’re doing what we can,” said Hackett. “Staff hasn’t been turning in mileage sheets, and we’re trying to cut down on buying extra supplies and things like that, or we’ll bring things from home if we need them. We’re in this business because we love what do and the difference we make. This is such a life-changing program for so many people.”

Reno, 38, lives with his mother in Oakley and has been with Future’s program for a little over three years. For him, the work provides a sense of independence and freedom he might not otherwise enjoy.

“This is a good job that keeps me outside and busy,” said Reno, who is mildly mentally challenged. “It’s fun and I can get here by myself and get home. It’s very good.”

And the benefits are reciprocal. Brentwood Landscaping Facility Supervisor Will Margesson said Future’s workers provide invaluable services.

“They help us out on a lot of jobs and take a real burden off our (parks) crew,” said Margesson. “They’re a real asset and we’re lucky and happy to have them.”

Martha Hassler, lead job coach for the Futures Explored program, said she came to the program more than 13 years ago with a need and desire to help: “I came here because I love working with people, and this group is so amazing. But I have gotten so much from this program and these people. Some of them, when they came here, couldn’t even do something as simple as tie a knot in a garbage bag.

“What this gives them is the opportunity to be like everyone else; it gives them self-esteem and independence. I hate to see how the cuts are effecting everyone.”

Hackett does too, and said when Gov. Schwarzenegger took office she had high hopes that Futures Explored and those they serve wouldn’t be forgotten, especially given the governor’s relationship with the Kennedy family, which began the Special Olympics.

“Yes, we had high expectations with this governor,” said Hackett. “But it’s not looking too good; we’ve been kind of disappointed.”

But Hackett and her staff remained determined despite the cuts. “We are tightening our belts,” she said. “We hold a lot of fundraisers, and we have two thrift shops (in East County) which are continuing to do well, and more and more we’re relying on the kindness of individuals who help out. It’s pretty dismal but we’re hanging in there.”

Green, who is unaware of the program’s financial woes, is upbeat and optimistic about his future. Now with a steady job, security in a group home and the confidence to succeed, Green is currently taking driving classes and hopes to get his driver’s license in the next few months.

They’re small victories that count for much, and the 30-year-old Green is happy for them. “It is exciting,” he said with a shy smile. “I’m happy to be taking the driving classes. I want to learn how to drive.”

For more information on the Futures Explored program, or for ways to help, call 925-779-1029, or visit the Web site at www.futures-explored.org.