Students combine a love of animals with a passion for helping others
Students in our Retail and Office Services program have gone into the dog treat making business—an opportunity with lots of learning “baked in” that is supporting the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
Using a recipe found online, students are baking “Bag O’ Bones” treats for dogs and selling them to students, faculty and staff at the Career & Technical School, Albany Campus.
Teaching Assistant Peter Coumbes said that so far about 100 bags—600 treats in all—have been sold. Proceeds of the 50-cent-a-bag sale are being donated to the Humane Society.
“The students choose a charity each month [to donate the proceeds of their coffee sales to.] They thought this would be a good activity they could learn from and help the cause with,” said Teacher Charles Bednarczyk,
The students say they are enjoy making the “bones” in support of the Humane Society.
“It’s fun because we get to roll out the dough and cut them up,” said Logan Phillips, who attends the program from Schalmont.
“I like it because we get to work together,” added classmate Zach Czwakiel, of Watervliet.
Ryan Williams said, “It’s a different project so it’s fun.”
Beth Diamond of Schoharie and Macy Drouin of Scotia-Glenville, seniors in the Pet Tech program, recently stopped by the school store to purchase that day’s final batch of treats.
“The dogs love them. I dip them in peanut butter and my dogs go nuts,” said Drouin.
Demand for the canine treats have been so great that Combes said he anticipates continuing the manufacturing and sale of the treats through the rest of the school year.
“We can’t keep them in stock,” he said.
Interested in supporting our students and the work they do on behalf of the region’s charitable organizations? Contact Retail and Office Services teacher Charles Bednarczyk at charles.bednarczck@neric.org.