December – Innovator
Bunny Besties in on a mission to bring the magic of the therapy rabbit to those in need within our community. With our values and fellowship, Bunny Besties creatively promotes caring, education, stress management and finding joy through the human animal bond. Their vision is to impact our local community through their commitment to helping those in stressful life situations know that they are not alone. Learn more below!
Every business has a story, tell us yours.
Bunny Besties came as an idea 5 years ago. I decided to connect with those in need of emotional support with registered therapy rabbits. I found that larger animals can be scary to some but a therapy rabbit is more like a teddy bear on your lap with a heart and a soul.
Knowing the therapy animal world is consumed with dogs and horses I took my idea to places that I was passionate about. Visiting the elderly and the homeless is where we started. I dreamed of one day growing big enough with volunteers to become a non profit.
You were chosen as this month’s Innovator Client. What does being an Innovator mean to you?
Being an innovator means coming up with an idea that is something new and surprising to many. It means creativity and it means never giving up to fulfill the dream.
No one likes to brag about their business, but if you HAD TO . . .
I love to brag that we have given out over 2000 stuffed bunnies and books to homeless children at People Serving People Homeless Shelter. We have also given out over 300 handmade quilts to those children. We have handmade and given out over 150 polar fleece bunny hats and are working on 50 more. We now have over 30 volunteers and 16 registered therapy rabbits. Last year our organization donated our time in our community with over 1500 hours.
We learn from our mistakes, especially in business. Give us some words of wisdom.
My biggest learning has been about saying no. I have a hard time turning away all the requests we have to volunteer at facilities. There is just more need than we can physically fill. I never knew how loved and embraced therapy rabbits would be in the Twin Cities. Saying no keeps my organization from burn out. I wish we could do everything but we just can not. So I have learned to say no.
Share the best advice you ever received.
The best advice was to take those learnings stored in my own head and transfer them into a training series. It has taken my volunteers that participated from good to great.
Describe your perfect day off.
Spending time learning to sew and machine embroider. I have been taking classes for three years and love to get time to work on building my skills.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
That I am living my dream through Bunny Besties.
Together we are stronger. Tell us something you like about being our member.
I feel so truly grateful to be able to work at OffiCenters. I did a series of five trainings on Sunday afternoon and filled the conference room each time. So thankful to hold my board meetings too. What a beautiful space!
If you could work anywhere under the sun, where would you choose?
I love the salt air of the coast. I would love to be by the ocean and hear the waves and feel the ocean breeze right into my office.
How can people CONNECT with you?
I can be emailed at jsmith@bunnybesties.org
