Baked with Purpose: The Story Behind Ella and Bella Pet Co
In a Raleigh kitchen, 19 adults with disabilities are mixing, rolling, cutting, baking and packaging all-natural, quality dog treats, every step is theirs. This is Ella & Bella Pet Co, a local nonprofit founded by Kristine Flora, and it started with a mother’s worry about what comes after high school.
A cliff on the horizon
Kristine moved to Raleigh from Boston 25 years ago and raised three children here. Her middle child has Down syndrome and as her daughter moved through school, Kristine could see a cliff coming.
“She was going to be finishing high school and I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she says. Unemployment for adults with disabilities runs at about 80%.
A light bulb
The answer came on a visit to her sister in Connecticut. Her sister took her to a new local business where adults with disabilities were making dog treats, which changed everything.Â
“A little light bulb went over my head,” Kristine says. “The Triangle is crazy for dogs. Everyone I know has a dog, and there wasn’t anything like that in this area.”
She came home and started researching right away. After testing recipe after recipe, one finally came togetherÂ
“just like Play-Doh. It was perfect.”
And after months of planning, Ella and Bella received its nonprofit status in March of this year.
Made start to finish by the team
Kristine put the word out that she was looking for adults with disabilities who wanted skill training and a job. The response was immediate. Today 19 team members work at Ella and Bella, and there is a wait list.
“They’re rolling the dough, they’re mixing the dough, they’re cutting, they’re baking, they’re packaging,” she says. “They’re doing everything.”
The product is simple and wholesome: an all-natural peanut butter, apple and carrot dog treat. It is the company’s one recipe for now. Not only are they bringing a quality dog treat, they are also giving adults with disabilities a chance to make a difference
Finding purpose every day
For Kristine, the best part is watching everyone find meaning in their work. “The most rewarding thing is seeing all the team members and community members finding purpose every day,” she says. “They come in and they’re doing something they’re truly proud of.”
What inspires her most is their attitude. “They have such challenges, and yet they have a smile on their face every day. They jump to work and they rise to the occasion. They do their work and they do it well.”
How you can help
With a wait list of people ready to work, Ella and Bella want to grow. The next challenge is getting the treats into more hands. Here’s how you can be part of it:
- Buy the treats. Every bag supports skill training and paid work for adults with disabilities.
- Come see the action. The community is welcome to stop by meet and watch this wonderful team at workÂ
- Volunteer. Regular volunteers are a big part of the operation, and there’s always room for more. Reach out for more information!Â
Your dog gets a healthy treat. Our team gets meaningful work. Raleigh gets a little sweeter. To Learn more about Ella and Bella and their dog treats, visit their website or follow them on Instagram or Facebook!
