Nonprofit Creates Employment and Community for 300 Weekly Volunteers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids nonprofit is transforming dog treats into meaningful opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, creating a model that combines employment, social connection, and skill-building in one unique program.

Beer City Dog Biscuits operates out of Sunshine Community Church at 3019 Coit Ave. NE, where volunteers gather several days a week to produce dog treats using spent grain donated by Founders Brewing Company.

The organization was founded in 2018 by Leslie Hooker and Suzanne Wilcox, two mothers of sons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were searching for work opportunities for their children.

"We wanted to create something for their sons to provide empowerment and a sense of purpose," said Jennifer Romain, the organization's executive director.

Romain joined Beer City Dog Biscuits in 2019 with experience in operations and entrepreneurship. Since then, she has helped expand the program significantly.

"We started with 17 brew bakers. Now we have 300 coming through our doors every week," Romain said.

Building Community Through Work

The program operates on round tables, making it easy for participants to interact socially with each other. Each bag of dog biscuits includes a photo of the person who helped make the treats, connecting customers directly to the individuals behind the product.

Katie, 32, who has Down syndrome, makes the weekly drive from Newaygo to Grand Rapids to volunteer at Beer City Dog Biscuits. She learned about the opportunity through friends in her Special Olympics community.

"A lot of her friends were going to Beer City Dog Biscuits and told her about it, so we started to go there," said Katie's mother, Jan Stack.

For Katie, the weekly trip is more than volunteer work. It's a chance to build relationships and take part in a regular routine. She participates in dough creation, mold making, and packaging, using precision scales throughout the process.

"She's been in this program since a freshman," Stack said about Katie's friend who nominated her for the opportunity.

"She loves that and meeting new friends," Stack added about the social aspects of the program.

"Those are her things that she looks forward to every week," Stack said.

Addressing a Real Need

Romain said the nonprofit was created to address a gap many families encounter when individuals with disabilities age out of school-based services.

"Our mission is to provide empowerment, employment, and community to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Romain said.

The program is structured to accommodate a wide range of needs and goals. Some participants are here for the social aspect, others for vocational training, and some to learn skills they can take elsewhere.

"For some of our brew bakers, this might be the only time they get to leave their group home during the week," Romain said.

Expanding Into Retail

The nonprofit has expanded into retail, creating a revenue stream that supports its operations. Beer City Dog Biscuits are sold in a range of locations across West Michigan, from small local shops to larger regional retailers.

The treats can be found at independent stores and boutique retailers throughout the Grand Rapids area. They are also available at multiple Pet Supplies Plus locations and in Meijer stores across several states.

Each bag of biscuits features the photo of the person who helped make the treats, connecting customers to the individuals behind the product and fostering a deeper appreciation for the work involved.

Full Production Process

Participants take part in every stage of production. They handle the entire process from picking up the grain to making the dough, filling the molds, and packing the bags.

"Our brew bakers are involved in the entire process," Romain said.

"Some of them are here for the social aspect. Some are here for vocational training, and some are here to learn skills they can take elsewhere," Romain said.

"Everybody's here for a different reason, and we're just here to meet them where they're at," Romain said.

"We're here to meet them where they're at," Romain said.

A Growing Movement

The program has gained recognition for its innovative approach to employment and community building. The round table design ensures that participants can easily interact with each other, building relationships and a sense of belonging.

For families like Stack's, the program provides something valuable beyond employment. It offers their children a regular activity they look forward to every week, along with social connections and a sense of purpose.

"I needed something for Katie to do, and she loves it," Stack said.

The nonprofit continues to grow, with 300 participants coming through the doors weekly. Each participant gains valuable skills from dough creation to mold making to packaging, using precision scales throughout the process.

Beer City Dog Biscuits stands as a testament to what's possible when communities come together to address real needs. The program provides employment, builds community, and creates products that are sold throughout West Michigan while giving adults with disabilities meaningful opportunities to thrive.