Slowing down to the speed of Summer.

It might be the warmth of the long summer days or the more relaxed schedules that encourage us to slow down, enjoy the extended daylight, and shift from overdrive to a more leisurely pace. At Pawfectly Delicious, while the summer rhythm is noticeably different, our team continues to thrive, enjoying their work, camaraderie, and community involvement. This summer, our baking, packaging, and volunteer teams have worked diligently to fulfill customer orders, handle increased special orders from new wholesale clients, and support community events.

Although it may seem like “business as usual,” summer brings its own set of changes, such as adjustments in dough production (with our dough makers on a two-month holiday) and staffing levels due to vacation schedules. The true spirit of teamwork shines at Pawfectly Delicious during these slower months, as everyone steps up to ensure the work gets done. I’m especially grateful to the employees who took on the extra responsibility of dough making this summer. They not only acquired new skills but also learned to collaborate, solve problems, and take ownership of a crucial part of our operations. It’s job and life skill training at its finest!

As we prepare for a busy fall and winter, here are some highlights from our summer and other interesting tidbits:

·         Unveiled our new 100% compostable packaging for both the four and eight-ounce treat bags. This initiative was a true labor of love, showcasing our organization’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our transition to sustainable packaging was made possible by grant funds from the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their support and belief in our efforts to make a positive impact on the world around us.

·         Launched our employee wellness initiative during enrichment period focusing on movement, mindfulness and empowering employees to take great ownership of their health and nutritional choices.   The team looks forward to yoga sessions with Ms. Linda and nutritional and strength sessions with Coach Nicole in the coming weeks.  We are grateful to the John J. Pohanka Family and Joey Pizzano Memorial Foundations for their generous grants to support our efforts to improve employee well-being and productivity.  Did you know that:

People living with disabilities are:

o   4 times more likely to report their health to be less than optimal.

o   2 times more likely to be unemployed.

o   2 times more likely to live in poverty.

o   3 times more likely to have arthritis, diabetes, or suffer a heart attack.

o   5 times more likely to report a stroke, COPD, or depression.

o   More likely to experience higher rates of chronic health conditions: diabetes (16.3% versus 7.2%) heart disease (11.5% versus 3.8%) obesity (30.2% versus 26.2%)  by https://healthcare.rti.org/insights/disability-health-inequities

At Pawfectly Delicious, we see each employee as a whole person and support them not only for their work but also by reinforcing the importance of overall well-being. Investing in our people is one of our nonprofit’s core values, and we take great pride in it. I am confident this initiative will have a significant impact on our team members and our productivity.

·         Social media presence continues to grow, thanks to the fantastic efforts of our social media developers, Liz Carmines and Amanda Klinger. They consistently create organic content that highlights the three pillars of our social media strategy: our mission, our impact, and our dog treats. Over the past year, we’ve expanded the social media footprint of Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats to 2,396 followers across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn—a 33% increase. Additionally, we’ve achieved over 215,000 content impressions and 5,200 profile visits across all three channels. Most importantly, we’ve seen a 79% increase in wholesale treat sales and a 52% increase in online orders We are grateful to the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz, John J. Pohanka Family, and Joey Pizzano Memorial Foundations for their funding to support our social media presence. If you don’t already follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, we encourage you to do so to stay updated on all things PPDT!

·         Farewell to Joey and Valerie (Well, sort of) This summer brought a few changes to our team. Our longtime baker, Joey Cahill, has moved to Knoxville, Tennessee with his family. We deeply miss Joey’s presence and his culinary expertise. Filling his shoes will be a challenge. However, we are thrilled to announce that Joey, with the support of his mom Diane and dad Joe, will be PDDT’s first official remote employee! Joey will be rolling out dough from his new home kitchen to help us fulfill specialty and custom orders. We are delighted to provide Joey with the opportunity to continue doing what he loves while also building brand awareness for our nonprofit in a new region.   Valerie Webster, our Community Outreach Team Lead, has made countless positive contributions during her tenure. From forging new relationships and improving marketing strategies to playing a crucial role in the success of our first fundraiser, Paws and Pours, Valerie’s impact has been immeasurable. You will still see Valerie at community events from time to time, and we are grateful for her continued support as a volunteer. Her shoes, too, will be hard to fill. We are currently searching for a qualified individual to take on this role. For more information, please reach out to info@pawfectlydelicious.org.

Want to find out where to find our team this fall?  Check out our events page on the PDDT website:  Click HERE  and bookmark to stay in the know.

Wishing you a smooth transition back into the fast lane of fall

Anne