MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two Whitehaven teenagers are rolling in the dough — literally — after opening "Butta Butter Cookies" nearly two years ago. Now, 17-year-old Jaicob Childress and his 15-year-old brother Jaiden Childress are using their platform to reach out to their peers.
“We were making them for ourselves, but then we started selling them," Jaicob said.
The teens hope to help facilitate a program teaching other teens certain trades hoping it will put a dent in juvenile crime.
With the help of their father Jameel, the brothers opened up shop in Whitehaven nearly two years ago.
“I work for my sons — I’m an employee," father Childress said.
After selling well over 500 cookies weekly, the two now turning their focus from profit to impact.
"We in Memphis Tennessee a very high crime-stricken place," Childress said.
Recent data shows crime has increased and among young people, particularly criminal juvenile charges in Shelby County surged 30% in the last year.
The high schoolers expanded their reach to get some of their peers off of the street.
With help from Brian Harris, the director of Youth Services, they’re planning to train young people this summer in certain trades.
"We want to take the skills that we got when were young and give it to teens that’s our age so they can have something to rely on," Jaicob Childress said.
Jaicob and Jaiden have set up a GoFundMe, with the goal of raising $6,500 to fund the program this summer for the Junior Builder’s Summer Camp Program.
“If you can go put the time and effort in stealing a car or put the time and effort to go steal or do something that bad, you can put the time and positive energy into doing something that’s good for yourself and for others," Jaiden Childress said.
They plan to make it free to teens aged 13 to 17.
