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At Great Harvest, we believe in giving back to the communities in which we live. Below are a few stories of owners and the amazing ways they add to their local neighborhoods.

Community Effort Launched with a Personal Connection
"Business Wise" Girl Scouts Take on Bakery Products and Fundraising
Whole Grains for Growing Brains campaign in Colorado
Serving The Spokane Community, One Loaf At A Time


Community Effort Launched with a Personal Connection
Raising over $5,000 in one day for Multiple Sclerosis was a huge success for the Lincoln, Nebraska, Great Harvest Bread Company. But for owners Kevin and Julie Horne, the commitment to the event was more than just raising money for a good cause. They also have a very personal tie to the organization.

Kevin was diagnosed with the disease four years ago, and said “Like so many others, my family and I are affected every day by MS and we wanted to do something to help.”

With the support of the Nebraska Chapter of the National MS Society, volunteers from National Research Corporation (Kevin’s previous employer) and family members of bakery employees, Great Harvest opened on a Sunday, a day they’re normally closed, and donated 100% of their sales to the cause. Lincoln Poultry donated some ingredients to the event and the bakery kicked in the rest.

Lisa Brink, the President of the Nebraska chapter of the National MS Society, said, “Donating 100% of proceeds is unheard of. This is a great example of non-profits and for-profits collaborating to further our mission. The Society serves more than 700 clients and their families in the Lincoln area, and this fundraiser is a great model for showing support in the community.”

The bakery and volunteers raised $5,180 dollars, with the entire amount going directly to fund research and support programs for people affected by MS.

“It exceeded our expectations.” Julie said. “We went through 700 loaves of bread and with all the support and energy of the volunteers, it was an incredibly fun day! What was most surprising was the number of people who came in and shared their own personal stories about how MS has affected them, their families or someone they know. It was great to have that personal connection.” This day of giving back was truly a labor of love for everyone involved.


Business Wise Girl Scouts Take on Bakery Products and Fundraising
It could have been as simple as seeing a tour of the bakery and calling it a day. Instead, Girl Scout Troop 299 took on a long term challenge that earned them “Business Wise” advanced badges, funds for their troop and a $1000 contribution to the local food bank.

Oak Park, IL, Great Harvest Bread Company owner, Cathy Yen, said, “It’s amazing what a group of fourth graders can do if you just give them the opportunity.” The troop worked for five months to achieve their goals by putting in a lot of evening hours in the bakery. They researched products and ultimately chose Monkey Bread as their main focus. Not only did they have to taste test and decide between 8 different recipes, they also took on pricing, promoting, packaging and selling their product.

Cathy added “They made the decisions at every step. My role was to give them the tools and information they needed, such as ingredients availability, costs, difficulty levels in producing certain products and even packaging options…which they learned influences a product’s selling price. They took it step by step to determine the price and profitability for selling their Monkey Bread in the bakery.”

The troop met their goal to raise $1,000 for the food bank, earned their “Business Wise” badges and met at the conclusion to discuss what they learned from the project. For Cathy, it was a great opportunity as well. “I have a passion for helping educate young girls, for getting them out there thinking and working together. This group went well beyond the usual expectations for fourth graders, and seeing what they achieved gives me immense satisfaction. Having the opportunity to do things like this is one of the reasons I got into this business in the first place.”


Whole Grains for Growing Brains campaign in Colorado
Matt & Sheri Salis in Denver, CO, have created an annual event to raise some dough for students in the Denver Public School System experiencing homelessness. Not only do 100% of the sales dollars (not the profit – 100% of every dollar taken in) support this cause, but also students from local elementary schools volunteer to help. Students bake and sell bread to raise some dough for the Denver Public School’s Educational Outreach Program which helps provide food, clothing, transportation, and other essentials for the homeless students.

In addition to the bakery owners and student volunteers, the employees of the bread company eagerly give up their day off and work without pay to help make this fundraiser a success. Says Michelle Higgins, bakery production manage, “Just tell me where you need me and when, and I will be there.” Michelle and the rest of the Great harvest crew share a love of kids and a desire to make a difference in our community. “This is a big part of what Great Harvest is all about!!”

Customers also have the option to buy bread and donate it back to the Educational Outreach Program. This brings a tangible and immediate benefit to the homeless students. Donated bread is distributed to the students in Denver’s homeless shelters.

This year, the Salis’ raised $5800 and hundred of loaves went to the shelters. Their Whole Grains for Growing Brains event is a shining example of the community spirit alive and active in Denver.


Serving the Spokane Community, One Loaf at a Time
Jacque Sanchez (Spokane, Washington) believes in hands-on helping. That's why she welcomed three boys from the Morning Star Boys Ranch, a home for troubled youth, into her home and Great Harvest business. When they visit her home, they are treated like family members. At her business, they learn how to run a service-oriented company.

Jacque leads by example. She has a long list of volunteer activities and is known for donating baked goods to the Spokane Food Bank, the Ogden House, and numerous school fundraisers. Jacque recently won Spokane's C. Michael Archer Community Service Award for her efforts.

Why does Jacque spend so much of her time offering neighborhood support? "I want to teach my own children how they can make a difference in this world – even if it's just one loaf at a time. As a parent, I have a responsibility to show my kids how to give to others who are less fortunate. Even if you think you are so badly off that you don't have anything to give, you can always give someone your time."


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