Cookie Place, Inc.

The mission of Cookie Place, Inc. is to provide a competitive food service business environment where people with disabilities may be supported in their efforts to explore vocational interests, receive one-on-one skills training, and increase proper work behaviors, while earning fair market wages and providing quality food products to businesses and to the general public.

Description:
Along with it’s professionally equipped and operated bakery and café the business also runs a competitive wholesale and catering accounts. Those disabled individuals who first come to the Cookie Place have a choice of several programs. Some come to interview and get information about the food service occupations. Others can use the site as an assessment to see if they are ready to begin work in a “competitive job” . Many have decided to work in the food service field and now want to develop their skills in a variety of job tasks. Our employees are welcome to stay for as long as they need. Everyone is encouraged to move on to higher paying jobs with increased hours, thus making individuals as independent as they can be.

Recognizing the multitude of skills needed in a typical bakery, Cookie Place has developed job descriptions, duties and training to help the new employee to become a well-rounded skilled worker. Some of the skills learned include scooping, baking, bagging, labeling and delivering our award winning cookies.

We are a unique program that is run for and by disabled individuals. This is the true strength of our program. Our employees are our product. The by product is the service we provide to the business community.

There have been many accomplishments throughout Cookie Places existence. Foremost among the accomplishments is its continued service provision to people with disabilities, namely its employees. We have been able to assist over 400 individuals with disabilities in their attempts to lead more productive lives. Some have come to the business for only a short period of time. Others have stayed for many years, needing the supportive environment to be able to grow at their own pace. Many who have gone through our doors have moved on to other better paying job opportunities, or have chosen to continue their education either in food services, or other areas of interest. Whatever occupational direction they end up choosing, Cookie Places valuable experiences have directly affected their lives. Being a key part in helping a person develop from a state of helplessness, low self-esteem, or doubting whether they can ever work again, to seeing an employee grow and develop into a valuable addition to our workforce is priceless.
The efforts and learned skills of our employees have been outstanding. We have been honored to be chosen by The RI Monthly Magazine for having the “Best Cookies” in RI five times. These awards are proudly displayed at our business. These awards have proven very motivational for all past, present, and perspective employees.

History:
Funded partially through a yearly grant from the Department of Mental Health, Cookie Place has been in existence since 1982.We are a business who has successfully thrived for 27 years, winning awards and developing many well-known business partners both in private and in government circles. Although we look at our history over the years with a sense of pride, we always remain focused of the main purpose of this business. It is the services we provide for our employees that make our business stand out over not only other businesses in RI, but we believe all over the country as well.

Contact people:

Raymond DePasquale, Executive Director, (401) 351-8789, (email) Violet Amaral, Communications Director, (401) 351-8789, (email) Cadence DeMars, Supervisor, (401) 351-8789, (email)

Office fax number: (401) 861-2411

Address:

280 Washington Street Providence, RI 02864 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cookieplace.org

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Helping People in Crisis, Building Adult & Neighborhood Independence
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No
What type of organization
	Other

Last updated on September 25, 2009