One perfect pie! Leader Dogs for the Blind benefits from recipe competition winner

December 1, 2010 – Hiller’s Markets Good Deeds program, where tasty and nutritious ready-prepared dishes are sold to benefit local charities during these challenging economic times, will benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind this December. The charity was chosen by Sally Sibthorpe, who had the winning recipe at the Hiller’s Market and Buy Michigan Now competition this summer with her delicious Brown Sugar Buttermilk Pie. Individual, single-serving pies will be sold at Hiller’s prepared foods counter for $3.49 each, with 100 percent of the profits going to Leader Dogs for the Blind, based in Rochester Hills.

Justin Hiller, vice president of Hiller’s Markets, said: “Hiller’s is proud to partner with Leader Dogs for the Blind. Guide dogs are an integral part of creating a higher quality-of-life for people who are blind or visually impaired by offering more mobility and independence.”

Rachelle Kniffen, a spokeswoman for the charity, said the organization annually assists 260 people, hailing from as nearby as metro Detroit and as far as Canada, Mexico and Spain.

“We make a huge difference in people’s lives. Most people are not born blind; they become blind during their lives. We see people who lost their sight years ago and then just stay in their houses,” Kniffen explained. “Having a leader dog gives them back their freedom. It can get them back into the work force. It’s really life-altering.”

Sibthorpe, of Shelby Township, said she chose the charity because she remembers watching leader dogs being walked and trained since she was a child. “This is a well-established charity, and many people have been helped by it. The donation will enable the charity to help even more people,” she added.

Leader Dogs for the Blind has some unique programs, such as being the only center to train leader dogs for both blind and deaf people. Leader Dogs for the Blind also offers a specialized cane-travel training for people who do not have leader dogs. They also supply a pedestrian GPS with every guide dog. For more information, or to make a donation, go to www.leaderdog.org.