We have amazing employees with compassionate and generous hearts. We came across a wonderful concept when I discovered that our teenage employees were working with a variety of charities in efforts to help those in need. Our employees take turns raising money for their projects with what in many restaurants would be considered a ‘tip’ jar. Rather than raising money for themselves they have raised funds for Children’s Hospital, Operation Smile, and Invisible Children, among others.

The Thanksgiving Dinner we put on for those in need started a collection which has been going on since. When we asked for our customers help in providing food for people without a place to go for Thanksgiving Dinner, your response was even more wonderful and giving than we had anticipated. When we had money left after the dinner was provided, we decided the Utah Food Bank would be the best place to give the money which had been so generously donated for those without enough food to eat.

Katie, whom you all know as one of the smiling faces up front at the bakery, decided a fun run would be a great way to raise additional funds for the food bank. She worked to create an exciting event that would provide much needed funds for the organization, whose donations have been down with the economic decline.

Since the beginning of the year, our customer’s have donated over $1000 to the Utah Food Bank.

All of us at Flour Girls & Dough Boys want to say Thank You! We appreciate you as customers, and we appreciate you as concerned neighbors and friends. Thank you for helping us contribute to those in need through your generosity.

To say I’ve learned a lot over the last 15 months of owning the bakery would be a gross understatement. One of the things I’ve learned is that small businesses really do struggle. The disadvantages they suffer from are varied and numerous; from higher wholesale prices and less favorable lease agreements to bargain pricing at chain stores and corporate name recognition. While I hope that someday my grandchildren will have the opportunity of running Flour Girls & Dough Boys, I fully understand why most independent restaurants never hit their first anniversary. Our family now makes a concerted effort to shop with the ‘little guys’ and avoid spending all our money at large corporate chains.

Many years in New England left me with a sincere appreciation for “Main Street, USA”. I spent ten years in Holliston, Massachusetts. I lived on Central Street, four blocks from the heart of ‘downtown’. I bought paint at Holliston Hardware, pizza at Basil’s and Table Top. I bought birthday gifts and craft supplies at Fiske’s General Store, and deli meats and local bread at Superette. I bought produce at a farm stand that operated about 10 months of the year just around the corner. Sure, it sometimes cost a little more, but I didn’t have to drive the SUV through three towns to do my shopping, I ran into friends, and I felt good about supporting my neighbors. I could plan and prepare a nice dinner without leaving town, although we did not have a Wal-Mart, or even an Albertsons. When I moved here four years ago I missed that small town association, and was inspired to re-create a part of that with Flour Girls & Dough Boys.

American Fork ‘has it all’ so to speak. Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Chili’s, Café Rio, Paradise Bakery, and pretty much everything else you can imagine exist in one convenient location. But if you travel east just a few blocks on Main Street, you come to a wonderland of amazing shops. You can buy clothing, flowers, jewelry, antiques and food from independently owned shops with owners who are our neighbors and friends.

Because of this, when I was approached by the ‘Saving Main Street’ team, I was proud to participate. Small independently owned businesses need to stay alive and well to maintain the health and well-being of not only the economy but the hearts and souls of all of us. Please join us on February 28th as we celebrate’ Main Street’ at Flour Girls & Dough Boys, and consider taking the challenge I issued to my friends and myself, and spend a portion of your retail dollars at independently owned businesses.