Life’sWork of Western PA and Eat’n Park have a storied history of coming together in
celebration of community and collaboration. This remarkable partnership has given individuals
with disabilities meaningful employment, opportunities to contribute to their community, and a
stronger sense of self-worth. That legacy continued this spring with a community work
instruction (CWI) opportunity at the Eat’n Park Cookie Factory, home of the famous Eat’n Park
Smiley Cookie.
Over six weeks, high school and post-secondary students ages 18 to 22 with disabilities worked
alongside Eat’n Park employees two days a week, four hours at a time. They learned the art and
science of baking; quality control; designing, preparing, and applying cookie decorations; and
cleaning, maintaining, and preparing baking equipment. For Liv, the appeal was clear from the
start. “I crave new things to learn and be capable of learning, rather than doing the same thing
over and over,” she says. Isaac, Alex, and Benz all came in eager to dive into making and
decorating the cookies themselves.
The work delivered on those expectations—and surprised the participants in different ways. Liv
lit up at learning to ice cookies, and especially at working with her Eat’n Park instructor, Lisa.
“She’s always so sweet and nice to us,” Liv said. “I liked working as a team and independently.”
Isaac, by contrast, found his footing in the rhythm of semi-repetitive work. “There are some
things that change,” he said, “but it’s not like it’s willy-nilly.” He also appreciated “how kind the
people are.” Alex took to the full sweep of the operation: cleaning, toting cookies, stacking
them, arranging them on trays. Benz simply enjoyed getting to know a new work environment.
The deeper lessons came from what each of them learned about themselves. Isaac perfected a
skill that had been eluding him for a long time. “I have learned how to get the cookies into the
tote without breaking the cookies,” he says. “That’s been hard at home, but I have learned how
to do it well here.” Liv discovered patience in a fast-paced environment. She says, “Even if it’s
fast paced, you have to be more patient with yourself.” Alex learned to handle materials like
bubble wrap with a gentler touch to work more efficiently, while Benz said that he learned how
to become more focused and better at speaking up for himself.
By the end, all four had gained more than work skills; they’d gained confidence about what
comes next. Liv realized that showing her personality in interviews demonstrates capability and
that she’s more independent than she’d shown. Isaac is sure of himself: “I might not get the
initial job, but I can find other places that may hire me. I trust myself to find a job I enjoy.” Alex
and Benz left with the same conviction that the skills they built at the Cookie Factory will travel
with them into future work.
Liv, Isaac, Alex, and Benz are just the latest in a long line of Life’sWork individuals to grow
alongside Eat’n Park. Since 1949, Eat’n Park has put people at the heart of what they do, and
their commitment to an inclusive workforce where individuals of all abilities are given the
chance to contribute and succeed is what makes experiences in the Cookie Factory possible for
Life’sWork clients. It is exactly the kind of championing that allows Life’sWork to continue its
mission of empowering people to live the lives they choose, with independence and self-
sufficiency.
If your organization is interested in building an inclusive work environment or contributing to
the Life’sWork mission through CWI opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we
can realize the vision of compassionate, inclusive, and equitable communities where every
individual has the opportunity to thrive. To get involved, donate, or discover more about
Life’sWork, visit lifesworkwpa.org/ways-to-give.