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) 害羞草研究所� a non-profit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities 害羞草研究所� were recently hired to help make Tommy害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 Choice has been so successful over the past two years that they couldn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檚 Life program would be the perfect fit for Ryder害羞草研究所檚 business.
害羞草研究所淚n the Life program, you have to want to work,害羞草研究所� Dessau said.
害羞草研究所楲ife害羞草研究所� stands for 害羞草研究所榣earning, inclusion, friendship and employment.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淓very person who joins us has jobs besides this dog-cookie business,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檙e getting even more income by making Tommy害羞草研究所檚 Choice Dog Cookies every week.
害羞草研究所淚 think the best part of the whole thing is they害羞草研究所檙e enjoying it,害羞草研究所� Lillian said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just so gratifying for them.害羞草研究所�
The extra hands have been 害羞草研究所渞eally helpful,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 salesperson, had customers coming to the booth by shouting out 害羞草研究所淓xtra! Extra! Tommy害羞草研究所檚 Choice Dog Cookies!害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 Choice Dog Cookies and donated them to the Community Animal Response and Education (CARE) Centre.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 care about money, I care about animals,害羞草研究所� Loewen said. 害羞草研究所淓verybody害羞草研究所檚 so focused on money. For me, I care about what害羞草研究所檚 more important in life 害羞草研究所� animals. That害羞草研究所檚 who I am.害羞草研究所�
Tommy害羞草研究所檚 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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