Giving Back With Bread and Bachi’
It’s become increasingly more apparent that in the next few weeks, access to food stamps and other government assistance could come to a halt. Many businesses and individuals have taken it upon themselves to donate to local food pantries and support families in need to alleviate the inevitable hunger in lower-income households. Two local small business owners have decided to go above and beyond in not turning a blind eye to a soon-to-be struggling community.
Little Bee Bakery and Megumi Sushi Bar, Ramen, and Grill are taking incredible steps towards giving back to the community in and surrounding Miami County. The owners of Megumi are no strangers to supporting the community that supports them. Their values are built upon caring for customers and people in general. On Tuesday, October 28, Megumi Sushi Bar, Ramen, and Grill provided two hibachi meals for each person who provided an ID and EBT card, as well as one meal for each person who provided an ID showing that they were 60+ years old.
When asked about why they chose to give out meals for free and use resources to benefit the community, the owners of Megumi were confused as to why they wouldn’t. Megumi is always donating to food banks and giving back when they can, feeling that if they have the resources to help others, they will as often as possible.
Megumi Sushi Bar, Ramen, and Grill gave away around 170 meals from their Troy location, 500 in Medina, and 170 in Hamilton. They hope to continue to help the community as food becomes less accessible for those struggling with their EBT eligibility.
Megumi isn’t alone in the mission to support those in trying times. Brittany, the owner and founder of Little Bee Bakery, has been baking and selling fresh goods for around a year and a half. As a mother of two, the young business owner felt personally compelled to minimize the effects of dwindling SNAP benefits. She says, “All I can think about is all the moms who will go hungry trying to feed their kids, and I can't let that happen.”
Brittany feels as though “Moms are what make the world go around.” Therefore, she has created three different ways she and her customers can prevent other moms and families from going hungry in the next month. Brittany is donating an abundance of home-baked sandwich loaves to New Path Food Pantry in Tipp City. She is also opening her personal messages to anyone who has been impacted by the hold on benefits, so that a fresh loaf can be given in support, with no questions asked. Additionally, Brittany has opened a bread donation option to her menu where any one loaf that is ordered can be matched and delivered to New Path on the customer's behalf.
Brittany donated around 40 loaves in just four days after beginning her mission, with numbers gradually increasing as her posts are shared. The Little Bee Bakery has even received orders from out of state, with customers just looking to help where they can.
Food is a necessity, not a luxury, and as families are on the edge of struggling to stay fed, small businesses are stepping up. In a close-knit community like Tipp City and Troy, it’s important for families, parents, and citizens to have each other's backs in tough times. Megumi Sushi Bar and Grill and Little Bee Bakery recognize this and are making an impact by leading others in giving back.
