What’s a good summer morning without school? Donuts are free all summer long, after all.
Every day of the week from 6 to 11 a.m., children 18 and under who visit Duke Bakery locations (one in Alton and one in Granite City) can receive a free frosted donut and a half pint of milk or juice as part of the bakery’s free kids breakfast program.
“No questions asked,” said Ben Hollis, co-founder of Duke Bakery. “If you’re under 18 and you’re alone or with a guardian, we’re giving you a free donut and a half pint.”
This is the latest effort from Duke Bakery to help families and children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Duke Bakery has been giving back to the community for years, running similar programs and community fundraisers to support local students.
“We just felt like it was time to do something for the community and kids again,” Hollis said. “Everything is so expensive right now… I feel like people need some assistance now more than ever.”
April Jackson, a local mother of several children, brought her children to Duke Bakery on Tuesday for the program.
“It helps because my kids eat a lot,” Jackson said. “They even eat breakfast at home and still want donuts, so it helps.”
Since launching on June 2, Duke Bakery has averaged nearly 80 children per day at its two locations. The program was originally planned to take place on weekdays, but that changed after several community members donated money to support it.
“The community has been very supportive of this program,” Hollis said.
Among those donations, a business called Dar Roofing even provided financial support for the program after Duke Bakery recently underwent roof repairs. This and other assistance will be provided as Duke Bakery celebrates its 75th anniversary next year.
“We are here because of the support of the community, and the community has been supporting us,” Hollis said. “If we can do something to show appreciation for the community, that’s our goal.”
The project will run through Aug. 15 at both the Alton and Granite City bakeries. Additional donations can be made by emailing the bakery’s website. The Alton bakery is located at 819 Henry St. The Granite City bakery is at 3202 Namok Road.
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