Dozens of disabled workers sit at their usual tables in a no-frills Garland warehouse, waiting for something to do.

Judith Warner, 48, enjoys her work at North Texas Rehabilitation Services, her father, Jim Warner, says. "It gives her something to do, and she feels like she's accomplishing something rather than sitting at home every day."

Judith Warner, 48, enjoys her work at North Texas Rehabilitation Services, her father, Jim Warner, says.

“When I walk on the floor, they ask: ‘Do you have any work for us, Mike?’ ” said Michael Pope, president and chief executive officer of North Texas Rehabilitation Services.

“It’s breaking my heart.”

The Garland-based nonprofit recently lost a contract that provided packaging and assembly tasks for many of its 350 workers, all of whom have mental disabilities. The client, a building-supply business, has opted to take the work in-house because of the tough economy.

That has left some employees at North Texas Rehabilitation Services without any work, and others with smaller paychecks.

Mr. Pope worries that his agency could shut down if it doesn’t find other jobs. The contract brought in $60,000 to $70,000 a month, about a third of its revenue.

The recent turn of events has meant less pay for Barbara Charlebois’ severely disabled daughter, Blair, 24, who works at the agency’s Carrollton site. Blair, who receives about $630 a month in government disability income, typically earns enough from her job to buy extras such as DVDs and shoes, Ms. Charlebois said.

But the job isn’t just about money, she said. Her daughter also enjoys socializing at the center.

“This is what they can count on in their lives; it gives them purpose,” Ms. Charlebois said. “They won’t have anything if this goes away. It’s the end of the line.”

Jim Warner said few options exist for mentally disabled adults. His 48-year-old daughter, Judith, has Down syndrome. She has been a regular at the Garland site for more than 30 years.

“She looks forward to going there and seeing her friends,” said Mr. Warner, who drops her off on his way to work each day. “It gives her something to do, and she feels like she’s accomplishing something rather than sitting at home every day.”

North Texas Rehabilitation Services is one of several area nonprofit agencies that offer work, vocational training and recreational activities to adults with mental disabilities.

The workers range in age from recent high school graduates to senior citizens. Some have disabilities too severe for them to find other work. Others are training to get jobs at local businesses. The nonprofit provides extra supervision and counseling, as well as recreational programs for those who do not want to work.

On a recent morning, many workers sat at rows of tables quietly arranging cosmetics in gift boxes and placing stickers on supplement bottles. Under an exception to the minimum-wage law, they are paid based on the amount of work they do. Some earn little, while others earn $1,000 a month.

The nonprofit receives some government support and donations. But much of its funding comes from its work contracts. And it bids competitively.

“We don’t get business because people feel sorry for us,” Mr. Pope said. “Our guys take their jobs very seriously, and they work really hard.”

North Texas Rehabilitation Services has done a great job of packaging building supplies for Simpson Strong-Tie Co.’s McKinney plant, said Phil Burton, a company vice president. But he said Simpson had to end the contract because of the economic downturn.

“The last thing we want is for those guys not to make it,” Mr. Burton said. “We fully intend to go back to them at some point.”