Why a Deaf Center Started a Corndog Stand

Founded in 1989 as the Southwest Washington Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SWCDHH), the Deaf Center is working to expand its mission. For over 35 years, the nonprofit has been supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) population with a variety of resources, including interpreting services.

In a surprising twist, and with a little help from a Business Impact NW loan, the organization is now going all-in on a new, mouthwatering venture: an ASL-friendly hotdog and corndog stand.

Why corndogs? … It’s all about combatting unemployment

A lot has improved for the deaf and HOH population over the years. Real-time captioning, better background noise management in hearing aids, and increased representation in culture and the media have all made life a little easier.

Stubborn problems remain, however—a big one being unemployment. Employers can’t discriminate thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, but deaf people continue to experience significantly higher levels of unemployment than the general population.

This issue is top-of-mind for Deaf Center office manager Dehne O’Connor, her supervisor Don Redford, and the board members (most of whom are deaf or HOH themselves). Recently, they’ve been seeking to make workforce development a core focus, ideally through a deaf- and HOH-owned business that will grow and support the organization.

But what kind of business should that be? Food service immediately came to mind as an easy-entry industry, and the board concluded that a hotdog stand would be both an effective—and fun—way to provide food service workforce training.

A “small but mighty” team that’s learning a lot

Donny’s Dogs was formally launched in June 2025 with just a few volunteers and staff. The ramp-up has been an exciting ride, full of opportunities to learn (and cook) from scratch.

“We’re really new to this business, and we’re learning together,” says Dehne. “It’s small but mighty!”

It began as a volunteer-run business, and as revenue increased, the operation transitioned to hiring part-time employees. The committed initial team attracted loyal customers and served as a beloved community spot with a menu featuring gourmet hotdogs and corndogs.

Whatever challenges arise, the team is eating them up. “We don’t have a lot of experience with cooking,” Dehne explains, “but we’re learning how to make the food and how to just figure this all out. We’ve learned a lot!!”

Dehne’s enthusiasm bubbles over when she talks through an ASL interpreter about the quest to develop the perfect corndog. “We want it to be different from the same old ones you can get at the fair, so we’ve been doing the research, and we experimented with different foods. We want to fry it to perfection, figure out the right temperature … so it can be the perfect corndog!”

Donny’s Dogs is working closely with the Washington State Department of Health and the City of Vancouver to learn all the rules of operating a corndog stand. They’ve also got volunteers to help Deaf and HOH workers develop cooking and order-taking skills, and they’re developing strong, supportive relationships with several food businesses.

Financing the project with a loan through Business Impact NW

Getting a corndog stand up and running doesn’t come cheap, so the Deaf Center sought out a loan from Business Impact NW.

The loan was open-ended, and it’s been going toward equipment, business permits, and fees, supplies for the food vendors, and equipment. The Deaf Center worked with Loan Officer Laura Gomez to secure the loan.

Having a nonprofit as the recipient made this one different from the majority of loans that Business Impact NW does, but a major strengthening factor for the Deaf Center is that they’ve been around for 35 years. They also own the buildings they operate from, so their collateral was solid.

Dehne, Don, and the board didn’t need much in the way of business mentorship, but Laura offered assistance with documents and financial projections and served as a pillar of support for the organization. According to Dehne, Laura was “very helpful, very supportive to interact with. Focusing on our community here in Vancouver, where we have the Washington School for the Deaf, was so important.”

Laura also enjoyed her time working with the Deaf Center’s representatives. “It was great working with all of them,” she says. “We’re all excited to see what the new program does to serve the community!”

What’s next for Donny’s Dogs?

Now that the budding business has developed its signature corndog recipe and made a splash at various events near Vancouver, it’s time for the next logical step: getting a food truck.

The Deaf Center is in the process of fundraising for a truck, and then the Donny’s Dogs team plans to be a regular presence at farmers’ markets and events across the state. So, if you’re a corndog aficionado, look out for a bright yellow-orange tent with a logo featuring corndogs making the ASL signs for “perfection” and “love.”

Are you a nonprofit owner seeking a loan? Explore loan options with Business Impact NW here.