Community of Hearts has gone to the dogs, but in the best way possible.
The non-profit organization that teaches life skills to adults with developmental exceptionalities is selling dog treats through it’s Boxes of Hearts program.
Each week a team gets together at the Community of Hearts location in Old Quebec Street Shoppes and made the dough, mould the dog biscuits, cook and package them for sale.
They offer two kinds: peanut butter/banana and pumpkin.
“They’re gluten free and healthy. People just love them,” said Mary Anne Allain, co-coordinator of the program.
Another team works on Saturdays making chocolate-covered licorice treats for the two-legged treat lovers.
The dog treats sell for $10 a bag, which is adorned with a photo of one of the workers that makes the biscuits on the box, also explaining the program.
“We started the program last year and it went over really, really well,” said Ward.
“Our focus is to teach job skills to adults with developmental exceptionalities. Our people come out of high school and they all want to get a job but they need practice with the basic skills to get a job.”
One-on-one volunteers help the group do its work.
“It’s teaching them to be on time, to be prepared for work, the idea of listening to directions and taking constructive criticism,” Ward said, “but we’re finding the biggest thing is the social outlet for them. They love coming to be with their friends.”
David works at the dog biscuit night and also comes Saturday when chocolate-covered licorice and marshmallows are made for sale.
“I love it,” he says as he mixes up some oatmeal, peanut butter and mashed bananas for the dog biscuits.
“It beats sitting at home all day,” David adds.
Unfortunately selling the biscuits has proven tricky, given the rules and regulations on selling a food product.
The biscuits are sold through the Community of Hearts website and at their location in Old Quebec Street Shoppes. They can deliver in the downtown area.
For purchase info people can email [email protected].
The adults who make the treats receive a certificate and an honorarium at the end of the current session, which wraps up in June.
A few of the program’s adults have jobs and volunteer positions in the community.
“This is helping them develop those job skills,” Ward said.
