A small group of volunteers from SVP was fortunate to spend a Tuesday morning with Arin Wucherer, her mom Talia, and other staff and volunteers at Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats in Belmont, NC. We participated in baking and bagging the dog treats and not only saw how the nonprofit runs, but also experienced firsthand the heartbeat of the organization, which is the belief that all people, regardless of ability, have something special to offer.
Arin’s Good Girl Dog Treats won second place at SEED20 this year as the audience resonated with their mission of supporting careers for individuals with disabilities that reinforce independence, resilience, and purpose. Their vision is to provide employment opportunities for all individuals who need adaptability by finding meaningful careers that leverage their unique talents and interests. Our group was impressed at how organized this nonprofit was, especially as they do not have a commercial kitchen of their own and must pack up everything that goes into making the treats and cart it to the kitchen at the American Legion building each time they bake.
The operation runs very efficiently, and each person working there is extremely capable with a strong work ethic. There is definitely a happiness that pervades the place as everyone feels proud of their contributions to the finished product. The whole organization is committed to providing the highest quality dog treats, which several of us can attest to after bringing some treats home and having them enthusiastically gobbled up by our dogs!
