Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

	Volume 19, No. 1 - Winter 2011	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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Mary Ann Nolan
Co-Founder
Waggies by Maggie & Friends

Waggies by Maggie & Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit company founded in Wilmington, Delaware in November 2007 to employ persons with intellectual disabilities. Co-founders Leigh Corrigan and Mary Ann Nolan started this small business because of the inspiration and impetus gleaned from their daughters, Maggie and Elizabeth. Through the creation and selling of “healthy dog treats lovingly baked by persons with intellectual disabilities,” Maggie, Elizabeth, and others with intellectual disabilities participate in and enjoy the ever-growing world of gourmet dog treats as they bake, package, and market their all-natural specialty.

It is an unfortunate fact that the job market is bleak for individuals who are over twenty-one, have a disability, and have aged out of a school system. Gainful employment is further hampered when job supports are necessary for an individual with a disability to be successful on the job. Employment opportunities for Maggie, Elizabeth, and other adults with disabilities are critical. Waggies helps fill the need while offering exceptional and healthy treats for dogs.

The success of Waggies by Maggie & Friends is due to the ingenuity, perseverance, and generosity of many. Purchasing or renting a kitchen was prohibitively expensive. Luckily, two local churches opened their commercial kitchens, providing much of the necessary equipment for the creation of Waggies. Of course, equipment had to be purchased and, ultimately, adapted before the dog treats hit the shelves of some local stores. The rolling boards are unique to Waggies—custom designed to enable the bakers to roll the dough to a consistent thickness. The cutters, too, have been adapted to provide stable handling, which prolongs their functional life. Counting boards were developed to help the bakers visualize the packaging process. All of the necessary tools and supports keep the goal of this small company at the forefront of their mission: train the bakers to become skilled in every stage of making and marketing peanut butter and chicken flavored dog treats. Maggie is placing Waggies on the counting board. She knows that she has the correct number of treats for a bag when she has filled the sheet.

Volunteers guide and assist the young adults. Currently, there are seven bakers receiving an hourly compensation plus four interns from Delaware Autism’s POW&R (Productive Opportunities for Work & Recreation) Program. Over forty volunteers are on the roster for the four-day per week baking schedule. The team works 3.5 hours a day, with two days spent at each church. Marketing is done via the Waggies by Maggie & Friends website, www.waggies.org, at local retail stores, and in veterinary clinics. In fact, Burns & McBride, a local home oil delivery company, has been a key supporter of Waggies; customers look forward to the sample of Waggies that comes with each oil delivery. The Burns & McBride order sustained employment through the summer. These all-natural dog treats are a popular item in Janssen’s Market in Wilmington because of the quality of the product and the attractive packaging.

You can learn more about Maggie & Friends and their gourmet dog treats at www.waggies.org. The website also identifies locations where Waggies can be purchased, and on-line ordering is available. In addition to their their baking duties, Maggie & Friends enjoy speaking with groups in the community to share their passion for the work they do in order to produce a marvelous product. Contact the group at 302-598-2867 or waggiesbymaggie@comcast.net to arrange a public speaking event.

When all is said and done, the employees at Waggies by Maggie & Friends love their jobs; the volunteers never miss a day; and dogs beg for more Waggies. It’s a winning combination! ■

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