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Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable..
Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
From left: Paul Donohue, CEO of Echo Works, Todd Goldian, Community Relations for ECHO Works, and Peter Yuska, general manager of ECHO Barkery.
Bags of ECHO Barkery’s dog biscuits are sold at Whole Food and at farmer’s markets and special events in Loudoun County. Monthly subscriptions can also be purchased online.
An employee at ECHO Barkery applies labels to the packaging.
An employee at ECHO Barkery fills bags with dog biscuits.
ECHO Barkery’s General Manager Peter Yuska demonstrates the process for making the dog biscuits.
An employee at ECHO Barkery completes a step in the dog biscuit-making process.
From left: Paul Donohue, CEO of Echo Works, Todd Goldian, Community Relations for ECHO Works, and Peter Yuska, general manager of ECHO Barkery.
Bags of ECHO Barkery’s dog biscuits are sold at Whole Food and at farmer’s markets and special events in Loudoun County. Monthly subscriptions can also be purchased online.
An employee at ECHO Barkery applies labels to the packaging.
An employee at ECHO Barkery fills bags with dog biscuits.
ECHO Barkery’s General Manager Peter Yuska demonstrates the process for making the dog biscuits.
An employee at ECHO Barkery completes a step in the dog biscuit-making process.
After a pandemic-related loss of about 90% of the job opportunities for participants at Leesburg-based ECHO Works, a nonprofit which has a mission of providing life-long support for individuals with disabilities, the leaders of the organization realized they would need to pivot in order to continue with their mission.
Paul Donohue, CEO of ECHO Works, said they wanted to find a way to get participants back to work, and after considering several options, they decided the best idea was to open a dog biscuit-making business which they named ECHO Barkery.
Establishing the Barkery allows them to provide employment opportunities for its participants without having to rely on community partners sites, many of which were either shut down during the pandemic or there were shifts in the availability of onsite work.
The Barkery launched in May 2021 in a kitchen facility on Ashburn Road in Ashburn. The 25 individuals who are employed there complete every aspect of the process involved in making and selling homemade dog biscuits, which come in three flavors.
“They are involved in every step of the process. They mix the dough, roll it out, cut the shapes, bake, dehydrate the biscuits, package and label them and even sell them at markets,” said Peter Yuska, general manager at ECHO Barkery.
The workers produce about 2,000 bags of biscuits a month, most of which are sold direct-to-consumer, but a portion are sold online or at Whole Foods Markets. The team is also developing a fundraising program which will work with local schools and other organizations.
“They are healthy for your pet and you are supporting a wonderful cause,” Yuska said. “The interest is growing and we are seeing a growth in our monthly subscriptions.” A recent $25,000 donation from Pearson Smith Realty provided the operation with a new machine to streamline operations and increase production.
In addition to the Barkery, ECHO has also introduced jewelry-making and candle making businesses which have also been a great asset to the organization, Donohue said.
By providing these skill-building job opportunities, day support transportation and other job placement, ECHO’s goal is to empower adults with disabilities so they are active members of the community.
“We have done fantastic with offering our services and we want to spread the word and tell the community that we are here,” Donohue said.
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