Yutaka Welfare Society: 50 Years Creating Smiles

Fifty years ago, with no place for people with disabilities to work or generally take part in society, Yutaka Welfare Society* was established in Nagoya's Minami Ward, with its first collaborative workshop. Since then, the organization has grown to around 80 branches providing work for 600 special-needs staff.

Chubu Walkathon has been supporting Yutaka Welfare Society since 1996.

*Yutaka Fukushi Kai / 社会福祉法人ゆたか福祉会

With the Walkathon's donation of ¥200,000 in 2019, the organization purchased a food dehydrator for its Fureai Cooperative Workspace (ふれあい共同作業所), which was planning to enter the pet-food production market. They have now already begun producing their first pet-food product - Beef Tongue Jerky. 

While previously, they could only produce semi-finished goods, with the newly-acquired equipment, they are able to carry production through to the end. This means there is more work available, an increased profit-margin, and ultimately, they can offer work to more people with disabilities.

Before commencing production, the workers were worried when they saw the raw beef tongue and wondered, "Is it really a doggy treat?" However, after going through the new food dehydrator, they found that, "This is delicious, so surely dogs will enjoy it." In addition to cooking the jerky, workflows for the special needs staff include cutting the jerky, weighing it, and packaging it for sale - including the final "fureai" seal. The workers and indeed the organization are proud of their new line of pet treats.

You can purchase these fine pet snacks at the Fureai Collaborative Workshop, as well as the following locations:

• TEASER Yobitsugiten (a café)
• One Love (Hoshizaki)
• Alo Café (Hoshizaki)
• Okazaki Wanwan Zoo (Puppies & Kittens Hall)
• Michi no Eki (Koren Hall)

The new line of Beef Tongue Jerky is due to be available from April 2020.