TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — With the economic uncertainties from the coronavirus, we here at ABC 27 are shining a light on businesses that are doing their part to help out the community while keeping their business open.
It's Easter weekend, and one local business is hoping you'll come by for homemade goodies for your small family gatherings.
"Easter egg coffee cakes, lots of Easter cakes, and Easter bunny cookies and cupcakes for the kids," Mark Cross says.
It might be Good Friday, but this year at Tasty Pastry sales are not so good, down almost 50 percent.
"Easter week and Passover week, we would be booming with Easter sales," said Mark Cross, whose family owns Tasty Pastry.
"Because people are just having small family dinners, the cakes we do sell are much smaller," Cross said. "People aren't ordering the large custom cakes for a 40 person party or a 50 person party."
Mark Cross' parents opened Tasty Pastry 57 years ago, selling a full line of baked goods, custom decorated cakes and more.
"It wouldn't be the same without all their yummy goodies for Easter," said Fran Shaw, Tasty Pastry customer. "It wouldn't seem right."
The family-run business is now banking on family traditions.
"Picking up for my parents, my family," Shaw said. "Bunny cakes, pound cake, shepherds pie, egg cakes, that are shaped like eggs."
Tasty Pastry is rising the the occasion while kneading out their business strategy.
"Deliveries to other restaurants, and country clubs, and coffee shops around town, many of those are curtailed," said Cross. "And the need for people to get food at home is still there, so we just started focusing on that."
Something else sweetening the deal? Tasty Pastry is continuing their three-times-a-week donation of unsold goods to the Kearney Center.
Now, Tasty Pastry is delivering the donations, since the homeless shelter doesn't have the volunteers to pick up the items.
"In the past we have volunteers, but we've gotten rid of that program," Audra Peoples said, Kearney Center communications director. "So it's a challenge for us".
A challenge, considering they still are feeding more than 320 people a day, incurring increasing costs, $150,000 last month alone.
"Tasty Pastry has supported us for years, and we're still feeding all clients," said Peoples. "To keep donations coming in is critical."
Filling the bellies and hearts of all who get their Tasty Pastries is something Cross and his family hope to continue to do, with the support of the community.
Tasty Pastry is still taking orders and offering free delivery.
As for the Kearney Center, they are encouraging people to donate online, or through their Amazon wish list.
Those who want to drop off food donations, do so at The Dwellings starting next week, as they are moving their kitchen and food service there.
If you're a business supporting our community, we want to hear from you.
ABC 27 has made it easy to submit your own business.
This is not just Tallahassee. South Georgia small businesses, we want to hear from you too!
Click on the We're Open, Tallahassee tab at the top of the ABC 27 website. Then, tell us your story by filling out the section to the right.
It's our way of letting people know you are open for business, and how they can support you.
