Meet Tina Garriott of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Garriott.

Hi Tina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, my days were spent around individuals with disabilities—from a family member to the neighborhood babysitter to my early experiences with Franklin County DD ARC. Each experience shaped how I saw ability, dignity, and amazing adaptive people. I spent nearly two decades advocating, encouraging, and learning more in the employment arena at a public school district. So when I had the chance to step into leadership at Growlers Dog Bones, it felt less like a new job and more like the next chapter without borders.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is never a smooth road when you take over a nonprofit founded by someone else. Changes were made that made sense to me, with the board members waiting to see a transformation. For someone who had no business experience, how difficult could this be?
Every setback became an unexpected blessing. They forced us to think differently, to innovate, to lean on our community in new ways. We began exploring new partnerships, reimagining how we train and support our participants, and deepening our connection to the people who believe in what we do.

There was never a question regarding the abilities of those that we would eventually employ, only how to pursue our mission and make it meaningful and impactful.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a nonprofit dedicated to living out our mission every day. Growlers provides individuals with disabilities meaningful employment, vocational training, and opportunities for volunteerism. Our crew contributes in every way possible, and even our volunteers are fully integrated into every part of the operation.

Most of our time is spent baking and packaging treats in a donated, state‑of‑the‑art commercial kitchen at Mitchell Hall at Columbus State Community College. We also connect with the community by selling to the public once a month at various events, where each Baker proudly promotes their products and talents.

One of our Bakers DoorDashes all local deliveries—serving our retail vendors, residential customers, and all twenty partnering breweries. Another Baker, an artist, creates and signs a personalized thank‑you card for every online order. Just this month, we had two Bakers receive their Ohio’s Food Safe Certification, which proves that a person in charge of a kitchen understands how to prevent foodborne illness and follow required food safety laws.

We strive to continue growing within the community we call home and to discover new ways to partner with local organizations, businesses, and neighbors. Our goal is to deepen our impact on the individuals we serve — both in the workplace and throughout the community — by expanding opportunities, strengthening relationships, and creating meaningful connections.

Any big plans?
Plans for expanding opportunities are vast, but we have started one portion of our dreams……
One way we’ve grown is by launching a monthly Social Night — a three‑hour Friday evening gathering that has quickly become a favorite among our Bakers.

These events are fully funded through Growlers Dog Bones sales and include a themed dinner, activities, and occasionally a guest speaker. Some nights are educational, others are simply fun and social, but every Social Night creates a welcoming space for our Bakers to relax, learn, and enjoy time together. All Growlers Bakers, along with their friends, are invited to participate.

As a community, we’ve made real progress in employment and social inclusion. There are more job opportunities, more activities, and more spaces where individuals with disabilities are welcomed and valued. But spiritually, the landscape is still limited. Too often, people with disabilities are expected to simply follow along rather than lead, organize, or shape a spiritual space of their own.

As we continue to grow, I can see us eventually needing our own physical location — a place designed around the full lives of the people we serve. This could include a commercial kitchen for our Bakers, a dedicated area for weekly Social Nights, and a Sunday gathering we call “Heroes of Faith,” where our Bakers lead their own spiritual outlet in a way that reflects their voices, their gifts, and their community.

I’ve never believed in placing borders around the people I serve. Their abilities, creativity, and leadership continue to show me that the more space we make, the deeper form of independence is available.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://growlersdogbones.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growlersdogbones/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068983389679#