Shakopee CIP Volunteers at Allyhoo

By Sgt. Dave Hergott

Within the past year, Shakopee Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP) participants have formed a rewarding partnership with a local nonprofit business located in Shakopee called Allyhoo.

Ally Doucette created this nonprofit when she was 15 years old after being a patient at Children’s Hospital. Ally came face to face with other sick kids and wanted to provide them comfort, hope and a diversion from the pain. She used her sewing machine to create a pair of identical stuffed animals. Her first creation was an owl! For every order received, one stuffed animal goes to the customer and an identical twin is donated to a patient at Children’s Hospital in the donor’s name.

CIP participants volunteer at Allyhoo 3-4 times per month. First, they select the stuffed animal pattern that they want to create. There are currently over 10 different stuffed animals to choose from, including Puppies, Cats, Bears, Bunnies and Chipmunks. Next, they select the different kinds of material to use. The last step is cutting all of the pieces out so the animal can be sewn together and stuffed by Allyhoo staff.

Shakopee CIP participants enjoy spending time at Allyhoo knowing that they are providing hope and happiness to sick children. For more information visit Allyhoo.com.

From Left to Right: Ijada Rudd, Sheryl Proch, Julie Jackson, Catherine Beckman, Adrianna Arroyo, Lyndsey Bender, Shannon McMurtry, Alexis Billing, Shirley Dunn and Paige Peterson.