A Harrison-based, dog-cookie company that raises money for guide dogs has been able to increase its productivity thanks to a team of dedicated bakers in Chilliwack.
Four people with Chilliwack Society for Community Living (CSCL) 香蕉视频直播� a non-profit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities 香蕉视频直播� were recently hired to help make Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Dog Cookies.
Back in October 2023, they met 16-year-old Ryder Newhouse, the young entrepreneur who started the dog-treat business in January 2022.
Ryder, who has autism spectrum disorder, and his grandmother Lillian Newhouse said Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice has been so successful over the past two years that they couldn香蕉视频直播檛 keep up with demand.
Ryder and Lillian were guest speakers at a workshop in Langley hosted by Community Futures B.C. as part of its Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program. While there, they connected with vocational councillor Jodie Dessau from CSCL, and she suggested that the adults in CSCL香蕉视频直播檚 Life program would be the perfect fit for Ryder香蕉视频直播檚 business.
香蕉视频直播淚n the Life program, you have to want to work,香蕉视频直播� Dessau said.
香蕉视频直播楲ife香蕉视频直播� stands for 香蕉视频直播榣earning, inclusion, friendship and employment.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淓very person who joins us has jobs besides this dog-cookie business,香蕉视频直播� Dessau said.
Life program client Alec Chelczynski stocks shelves at FreshCo, and also helps clean kennels and feed animals at a pet hotel in Rosedale. Kyle McMillan works at the Mission Thrift Store. And Kara-Lyn Loewen and Michelle Phillips deliver the Coffee News throughout Chilliwack.
They all get paid for those jobs, and now they香蕉视频直播檙e getting even more income by making Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Dog Cookies every week.
香蕉视频直播淚 think the best part of the whole thing is they香蕉视频直播檙e enjoying it,香蕉视频直播� Lillian said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just so gratifying for them.香蕉视频直播�
The extra hands have been 香蕉视频直播渞eally helpful,香蕉视频直播� she added.
Ryder and the four adults in the Life program are known as Team Ryder. They were at the Christmas Craft Market in November where Chelczynski, also known as the team香蕉视频直播檚 salesperson, had customers coming to the booth by shouting out 香蕉视频直播淓xtra! Extra! Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Dog Cookies!香蕉视频直播�
Once a week, the Life members make 24 packages of cookies with help from Ryder. In addition, Ryder also bakes dog treats twice a week at a commercial kitchen in Agassiz.
Thanks to the team from CSCL, Ryder has been able to raise even more donations for BC and Alberta Guide Dogs.
Animal-lover Loewen has already put some of her income from making cookies back into the community.
After a recent pay cheque, instead of holding onto the money for herself, she bought two packages of Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Dog Cookies and donated them to the Community Animal Response and Education (CARE) Centre.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 care about money, I care about animals,香蕉视频直播� Loewen said. 香蕉视频直播淓verybody香蕉视频直播檚 so focused on money. For me, I care about what香蕉视频直播檚 more important in life 香蕉视频直播� animals. That香蕉视频直播檚 who I am.香蕉视频直播�
Tommy香蕉视频直播檚 Choice Dog Cookies are available in 18 stores in B.C., including seven in the Chilliwack/Rosedale area, and five in Agassiz/Harrison. For more, go to tommyschoicedogcookies.ca.
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