Darn Good Cookie Company
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: February 18, 2013
For Darrin Jones, Darn Good Cookie Company has given him a second chance.
"It's been a good thing for me. It's been keeping me busy and keeping me on my toes," said Jones.
The cookie company is a part of East House agency. A non-profit organization that helps people recover from chemical dependency and mental illness.
Darn Good Cookie Company is a place of employment for those recovering.
"What you do for a living is very important to you as a whole person and has you do meaningful work activity and give back to the community," said Donna Marcello, Program Director of Career Services.
"I learn to be social. I'm not a real social person, so I get involved with a lot of customers who come in. I talk to the people, and my manager and coworkers I get along with real good," said Jones.
East House employees relearn job skills in a real-life employment setting. They earn a competitive wage and build their resumes while working at the company.
"Supported employment in Rochester for individuals in recovery from different disabilities has been on the decline so at East House we decided we needed to help our people to find employment and to relearn some work skills," said Marcello.
Those work skills are giving Darrin an opportunity to get back into the workforce.
"I was unemployed for a long time and East House career services has given me a chance to get back into the field of things, especially working at the Darn Good Cookie Company, so it's been darn good!" said Jones.
Employees will work at the shop for 6 to 12 months in hopes of getting a job within the Rochester workforce after.
All proceeds from Darn Good Cookie Company will go to East House. In addition to the employment programs, the non-profit organization offers supported housing, care coordination and education programs.
"It's been a good thing for me. It's been keeping me busy and keeping me on my toes," said Jones.
The cookie company is a part of East House agency. A non-profit organization that helps people recover from chemical dependency and mental illness.
Darn Good Cookie Company is a place of employment for those recovering.
"What you do for a living is very important to you as a whole person and has you do meaningful work activity and give back to the community," said Donna Marcello, Program Director of Career Services.
"I learn to be social. I'm not a real social person, so I get involved with a lot of customers who come in. I talk to the people, and my manager and coworkers I get along with real good," said Jones.
East House employees relearn job skills in a real-life employment setting. They earn a competitive wage and build their resumes while working at the company.
"Supported employment in Rochester for individuals in recovery from different disabilities has been on the decline so at East House we decided we needed to help our people to find employment and to relearn some work skills," said Marcello.
Those work skills are giving Darrin an opportunity to get back into the workforce.
"I was unemployed for a long time and East House career services has given me a chance to get back into the field of things, especially working at the Darn Good Cookie Company, so it's been darn good!" said Jones.
Employees will work at the shop for 6 to 12 months in hopes of getting a job within the Rochester workforce after.
All proceeds from Darn Good Cookie Company will go to East House. In addition to the employment programs, the non-profit organization offers supported housing, care coordination and education programs.
