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) B次元官网网址� a non-profit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities B次元官网网址� were recently hired to help make TommyB次元官网网址檚 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 TommyB次元官网网址檚 Choice has been so successful over the past two years that they couldnB次元官网网址檛 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 CSCLB次元官网网址檚 Life program would be the perfect fit for RyderB次元官网网址檚 business.
B次元官网网址淚n the Life program, you have to want to work,B次元官网网址� Dessau said.
B次元官网网址楲ifeB次元官网网址� stands for B次元官网网址榣earning, inclusion, friendship and employment.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淓very person who joins us has jobs besides this dog-cookie business,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址 throughout Chilliwack.
They all get paid for those jobs, and now theyB次元官网网址檙e getting even more income by making TommyB次元官网网址檚 Choice Dog Cookies every week.
B次元官网网址淚 think the best part of the whole thing is theyB次元官网网址檙e enjoying it,B次元官网网址� Lillian said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just so gratifying for them.B次元官网网址�
The extra hands have been B次元官网网址渞eally helpful,B次元官网网址� 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 teamB次元官网网址檚 salesperson, had customers coming to the booth by shouting out B次元官网网址淓xtra! Extra! TommyB次元官网网址檚 Choice Dog Cookies!B次元官网网址�
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 TommyB次元官网网址檚 Choice Dog Cookies and donated them to the Community Animal Response and Education (CARE) Centre.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 care about money, I care about animals,B次元官网网址� Loewen said. B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 so focused on money. For me, I care about whatB次元官网网址檚 more important in life B次元官网网址� animals. ThatB次元官网网址檚 who I am.B次元官网网址�
TommyB次元官网网址檚 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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