It's not too early to start planning your Thanksgiving holiday menu, especially when it comes to pies.

Delicious desserts are now the product of a unique local partnership. No matter how you slice it, pie profits will benefit two of Austin's best known non-profits.

Daniella Ramirez, 18, has become an expert apple peeler. She's learning the pie business from Bud Royer of Royer's Round Top Cafe.

After 20 years of baking great pastries, Royer has devised a unique way to keep up with the growing demand for his pie and cinnamon rolls.

For employees, he turned to American YouthWorks, a charter school which focuses on at-risk youth. According to Royer, "We want to work with inner city kids. To give them opportunities. To give them hope, Give them a chance, Give them confidence."

As for a kitchen, Royer struck a deal with Austin's Meals on Wheels and More.

"It's the perfect facility because we can step-in. Bring our own ingredients. Use what they have here and it's a great collaboration," he said.

In exchange, both non-profit organizations receive a slice of the pie profit.

KVUE News

"They really came to us with an idea to begin this Pie Empowerment Project and use our kitchen here at Meals on Wheels to do that. So we became partners in this wonderful venture," said Dan Pruett, of Meals on Wheels and More.

Thanks to American YouthWorks' students and the Meals on Wheels' kitchen, 15,000 pies will be sold over the next few weeks. But the real joy of cooking comes from helping turn young lives around.

"My life has definitely changed and I'm very happy doing the perfect best job that I was wishing for and getting my diploma and walking across that stage!" said Daniella Ramirez.

This unique partnership is being launched just in time for the holidays. Starting this weekend, you can buy Royer's pies at Whole Foods Markets. Then three days before Thanksgiving, a drive-thru tent will be setup outside Austin Meals on Wheels and More, located at 3227 E. 5th St.