Independence and hope are two things Happy Tails Service Dogs provide to their clients in the Phoenix area. For more than 25 years, this nonprofit has helped people with disabilities train their own service dogs, all free of charge. These weekly classes, held for 15 months, give their clients the tools to train their dogs in up to 25 commands specific to their disability. Once trained, a service dog can help a person with a disability navigate their home and community.
Jake Willison is an instructor in the program, and he noticed that Happy Tails clients often have other needs, including supplemental food. That’s how Happy Trails and Midwest Food Bank Arizona got connected. Jake has personally dealt with homelessness, so he also knows how that impacts people.
“At Midwest Food Bank, we often say ‘It’s not about the food.’ You can see this play out with Happy Tails Service Dogs,” says Merilee Baptiste, Executive Director of MFB Arizona. “Food is simply one of the many services this nonprofit provides, along with training, education, love, and hope.”
