ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Anyone who grew up in St. Louis and has been to a McArthur's Bakery probably remembers its special smiley face cookies near the checkout counter. The cookies are now on sale at Schnucks and you'll be smiling even more when you find out how they're made.
McArthur's Smiley Face Cookie Company is now creating cookie decorating jobs for local adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), by partnering with Lafayette Industries' StepUp Program. Starting Monday, the cookies can be found in 73 Schnucks stores.
It's an amazing partnership between locally-owned companies that have been based in St. Louis for decades.
"Our StepUp team members decorate each oversized butter cookie with great care and truly love their jobs," said McArthur's Bakery owner Scott Rinaberger. "We are happy to bring these special cookies and their job-training mission to a much bigger audience through Schnucks."
McArthur's Bakery first began working with Lafayette Industries' StepUp program clients at their Pioneer Bakery in Kirkwood, which provides food service job training opportunities.
"We are excited that Schnucks is able to help local companies like McArthur's bring their delicious products to our customers and thrilled to support their mission of helping adults with intellectual disabilities maximize their abilities," said Janell Schleeper, Schnucks Bakery Category Manager. "Each delicious cookie is individually decorated with a smile by a McArthur's employee, and it warms my heart to think about all the smiles that, together, we will bring to our customers."
Anyone with an IDD who lives in the St. Louis area can register to be part of the StepUP program. Click here to learn more.
Related
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram